Oswalt Gets 5 year, $73m Extension

Prediction, Oswalt will not be worth $16 million in 2011.

Prediction, Oswalt won't be worth $16 million any year.

He's already worth 16 million. From 2003 to 2005, he was the winningest pitcher in the Major Leagues. He is, without a doubt, the most overlooked professional pitcher. Great job by the Astros on this deal, not just because he's such a great picher, but because he fits the franchise so well. Funny thing is, he got steamed over rumors about the Astros shopping him, when the rumors were entirely media-driven. The team wasn't shopping him, it was just writers out there saying they should.

To illustrate how much better he's been this year than his record indicates, five of his eight losses have come in quality starts. Another one was in a one inning relief appearance. So, he only has two losses that were truly a result of his own bad pitching. He has eight no-decisions this year. His ERA in those no-decisions is 3.45 (six of the eight no-decisions being in quality starts). Oswalt has three full major league seasons under his belt, with a record of 59-30 in those three seasons. 2001 was his rookie year, when he went 14-3 in just 20 starts. And he had an injury-shortened season in 2003 (even then, he was 10-5 with a 2.97 ERA in 20 starts). All of that pitching in Enron Field/Astros Field/Minute Maid Park. How are you gonna say he won't be worth this contract, when he'll only be 34 in 2011?

It will be interesting to see how Zito and Schmidt do in the Free Market. If they land similar offers, the Astros will come off looking great snaring a superior arm.

He's a legit ace... got to pay them the big bucks. He won't be worth $16 million at the end of the deal, but what choice did the Astros have?