Lidge helps close Phillies' deal for Oswalt

FIRST, THE former teammates exchanged texts. Then there was a late-night phone call. Brad Lidge was giving whole new meaning to the concept of being the Phillies' closer, explaining to Astros ace righthander Roy Oswalt why he should waive his no-trade clause and join the defending National League champions.

"I think the Phillies sell themselves right now," he said yesterday after the megadeal was announced. "When I knew how serious he was, I was like, 'You've got to go for it, buddy. This is the time.' I really don't think you can say there was anybody else who gives us a better chance to win."

Lidge laughed when asked if he put Oswalt over the top.

"I don't know. I hope so," he said. "I know how good Roy is. So I was trying to do what I could on my part. I didn't want to be pushy or anything. But, at the same time, I let him know that, 'Hey, this is a pretty good opportuntity.' "

Oswalt appreciated the input.

"We played together for 7 years, and I trust his opinion," Oswalt told ESPN.com. "He told me that the clubhouse was great and that I was going to love it over there. His opinion means a lot to me."

Trades in the days leading up to the deadline have more than one advantage. At the most obvious level, they are meant to improve a contender's chances of winning. And even though talented lefthander J.A. Happ was part of the package that was sent to Houston, it's impossible to argue that the Phillies' chances of winning this year haven't dramatically improved. The first three pitchers in the rotation are now Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Oswalt.

"That's outrageous," Lidge said. "Guys like that are all aces in their own right. And to have three of them, it's going to make us pretty tough."

Agreed centerfielder Shane Victorino: "You've got to say that it, once again, puts us as one of the teams in the forefront. We could have done with what we had, I think. But getting him only adds to the confidence, adds to the depth of our rotation. When Roy's on, he's one of the best pitchers in the game. So I'm excited for him to come in and see what he can do."

The less tangible benefit is the message that it sends to the clubhouse, that the front office is just as committed to winning as the players.

"It should send a message that we are all about winning and that we expect to win," manager Charlie Manuel said. "We expect everybody to play as hard as they can every day. So, yeah, it's a big message. And it also sends a message to our fans and the other major league clubs."

One of the reasons Halladay was willing to accept a trade to the Phillies was that he spent too many years with the Blue Jays, who couldn't or wouldn't make a big splash before the deadline.

"Coming from a team where we weren't able to do things like this, getting to the point of the season where we're at right now and getting probably one of the best pitchers out there says a lot," he said. "He's a competitor and obviously his track record speaks for itself. He's done it for a long time, so I think that's always good.

"I just admire the competitiveness, I think. He goes after guys. He competes every time he goes out there and I think that's what makes him as good as he's been."

Lefthander Jamie Moyer also recalled seasons in Seattle when the players felt let down because management didn't add help at midseason.

"I think this organization respects how hard it is to win," he said. "I think the players understand how hard it is to win. The coaching staff understands."

Like most fans, the players concern themselves with winning this year, not what the ramifications might be in the future.

"Right now is the time," said catcher Brian Schneider. "Who knows if you're going to be here 2 years from now? We're not worried about what's going to happen next year. We have to worry about what's happening this year.

"Obviously, a move like this is going to set us up for next year as well. But that's next year, you know? It's the kind of move that, as a player, you like to see the team make."

Added reliever J.C. Romero: "From a confidence standpoint, it's definitely a boost. We're all here with a goal. We lost a great guy in J.A. Happ, but when you can get a player like Roy Oswalt, it can only improve what you already have.

"You don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. You live for today. Tomorrow is not certain. Winning is now. Tomorrow is later on."