Because keeping all of those quotes, notes, and rumors in one post is getting lengthy, let's break this down by team in separate posts. As these come in, they will be updated and reposted.
Mets
Latest Status: Maybe more interested in Cliff Lee
NY Post (6/15):
If the pitching wasn't addressed with significant dollars last winter, the skeptic doesn't see it happening now, not with self-congratulation being the order of the day following fine winter trash-picking by Omar Minaya. Dickey's knuckleball is dancing, so the Mets likely will stay with the one who brung them for $600,000, instead of the $28 million left on Oswalt's contract, counting a $2 million buyout for 2012.
Matthew Cerrone (6/15):
From what I can gather, the Mets and Mariners have talked quite a lot about LHP Cliff Lee, however the M’s continue to press for Jon Niese, who the Mets have little interest in trading… in fact, i’ve heard from people who know the M’s, and from people within the Mets, all of whom say Omar Minaya has the necessary prospects to get Lee, but so far Seattle is insisting on Niese and Minaya will not budge.
NY Post (6/14):
A player who is friendly with Roy Oswalt says the Astros right-hander would "definitely" accept a trade to the Mets if they remain in the playoff hunt. But the fact Oswalt is still owed about $30 million through 2011 makes it extremely unlikely the Mets would pursue him. The player who is friendly with Oswalt said the right-hander likes the veteran fiber of the Mets.
Joel Sherman (5/25):
Of course, the Mets should want Roy Oswalt. But this is not about what the Mets want. This is about what Roy Oswalt -- owner of a full no-trade clause -- wants. And all signs are that he does not want the Mets...When asked directly about Oswalt being a Met, Pettitte said: "He could handle New York because he is comfortable with who he is and what kind of pitcher he is. But we went to the World Series in '05, and he wants to go someplace that he can get to the World Series."
SI Live (Staten Island) (5/24):
In our poll on this matter, 74 percent of users said that they would give up Fernando Martinez for Oswalt. Only 18 percent picked rookie flame thrower Jenrry Mejia, 3.7 percent said they'd give up rookie first baseman Ike Davis and only 2.8 percent said they would deal Mike Pelfrey for Houston's best pitcher.
NY Daily News (5/24):
I would say, if the Astros are willing to pull the trigger right now, the Mets should do it. However, if they want to drag it out into late June or July to up the bidding war, the Mets must be careful. What good is Oswalt if the Mets are 15 games out in July? It's sort of like when the Mets got Benson and Zambrano at the trade deadline when everyone knew they had no shot to make the playoffs.
Mike Silva's Baseball Digest (5/23):
I have been talking about Oswalt with a baseball person close to the Astros situation. Despite the public claims that his situation won’t become a distraction I was told the team is growing tired of this saga in the locker room. A constant “Oswalt watch” will wear down any team...This is a deal that probably needs to wait until July. The Mets are going to have to find a way to hang around until Beltran returns. Jon Heyman indicated it could be late June, but logic says the All Star Break.
NY Post (5/23):
Bottom line: If the Mets step up to the plate, this is a trade that can be made because they have enough young talent to make a deal and the Astros have no reason to keep Oswalt.
Peter Gammons (5/22):
The Mets have had a recent history of stormy instability, of fired coaches and managers and a constant eye on which way the wind is blowing. Minaya's farm system has produced this season, beginning with Ike Davis and Niese. He doesn't have the revenue to get into the Roy Oswalt or Cliff Lee sweepstakes, but he's in a division that, other than the Phillies -- and they are closing with Jose Contreras -- has several undercurrents of unpredictability.
Alyson Footer (5/22):
I love the speculation that the Mets could be a destination for Oswalt. Ha. He ain't going there, folks.
Buster Olney (5/22):
The Mets tried to trade for Oswalt two years ago and might have the need now, but it's unknown whether Oswalt would approve a deal to the struggling New York club.
NY Post (5/22):
Roy Oswalt has asked the Astros for a trade, but don't expect the Mets to have designs on picking up the remainder of the $33 million the right-hander is owed through 2011.
Sporting News (5/22):
The last-place Mets aren't exactly contenders, which could scare away Oswalt. But they aren't completely buried, either, and Carlos Beltran -- a former teammate of Oswalt in Houston -- should be back eventually.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
