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Free-agent starting pitcher Roy Oswalt has signed a minor-league deal with the Colorado Rockies, the club announced Thursday.
Oswalt, 35, has now signed with a team during the regular season for the second consecutive year. Last season, he signed with the Rangers in late May.
Once he worked his way up to the majors, however, he did not fare well. He lasted only six games before being demoted to the bullpen. He made three more starts but overall had a pretty bad year. He finished the season with a 5.80 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 59 innings.
Once Jhoulys Chacin returns from injury, the Rockies have Chacin and Jorge De La Rosa atop their rotation. Twenty-three year old Tyler Chatwood has some upside. After that, though, it's a bit of a crapshoot. Jeff Francis has been bad, Jon Garland mediocre and Juan Nicasio -- despite the unbelievably lucky 3-0 record -- has been mediocre at best. Low-upside guys like Chris Volstad and Aaron Cook sit in the minors, just as youngsters Christian Friedrich and Drew Pomeranz do.
So, overall, the chances of Oswalt getting into the rotation are decent. It's hard to tell what spots, if any, will be open by the time Oswalt is ready, but his name carries some weight here.