Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Rockies have had a fairly successful rotation this far into the 2013 fantasy baseball season. The organization has always been known for their power-hitters, but this season the pitchers have had a big hand in the team’s surprising 19-14 record.
However, the young rotation got even better with the addition of SP Roy Oswalt. The righty was a free agent all summer, but went unsigned due to the fact that he was not fully healthy. He made several workouts with Colorado and the team decided to sign the 35-year-old to a minor league deal this past week.
The team has racked up 12 wins out of starters Jhoulys Chacin (three), Jon Garland (three), Juan Nicasio (three), and Jorge De La Rosa (three). The one thing missing from this rotation, though, has been true veteran leadership. Garland may be a veteran, but his track record is nowhere near Oswalt’s.
In 2012 with the Texas Rangers, Oswalt had another strong season before heading to the DL. He struck out 59 batters in 59 innings of work and finished with a 4-3 record. However, he had a career-high 5.80 ERA and similarly awful 1.53 WHIP, as he spilt time between a starting role and the bullpen.
Oswalt still has a lifetime 3.28 ERA and a WHIP of 1.20 in 12 MLB seasons. He is a three-time All-Star, not to mention that he has over 70 innings (71.1) of postseason experience. His presence would have an immediate impact across the board in Colorado and would only help the team win more games.
Oswalt could instantly upgrade the back-end of the team’s rotation that is currently occupied by Jeff Francis. He was once an elite fantasy pitcher, so it is not out of the question to think that he can become a serviceable fantasy option again. The veteran is worth taking a shot on in any league with more than eight owners.
Adam McGill is the Senior Fantasy Sports Writer at Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @adammcgill83, like him on Facebook, or add him to you networks on Google here or here.
