The Philadelphia Phillies announced Monday they will not pick up the options of right-handed starting pitcher Roy Oswalt or right-handed reliever Brad Lidge. However, senior vice president and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said this does not mean the two players will definitely not be back with the team next season.
"While we will not pick up either of their options, we will remain in contact with representatives for both players about the possibility of bringing them back for the 2012 season," Amaro Jr. said in a statement. "Brad and Roy both made significant contributions to the Phillies over the past several seasons."
Oswalt, who will be paid a $2 million buyout, would have been due $16 million had the Phillies accepted the option. Lidge would have made $12.5 million and will receive a $1.5 million buyout. The decision not to pay the two players comes likely from injury concerns, as both spent significant time on the disabled list in 2011. Oswalt went 9-10 with a 3.69 ERA in 23 starts, but missed about two months of the year with back problems. Formerly Philadelphia's closer, Lidge missed the early part of 2010 after having elbow surgery and went 0-2 with a 1.40 ERA in 25 appearances this past season. He missed the first three-and-a-half months of the year with shoulder and elbow injuries.
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