Reports: Oswalt deal pending his approval
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Reports: Oswalt deal pending his approval
Daily News staff
All that stands in the way of the Phillies' acquiring Houston righthander Roy Oswalt is his willingness to waive his no-trade clause, according to multiple reports in Houston this morning.
The Phillies would send lefthander J.A. Happ and prospects to the Astros in exchange for Oswalt, the reports say.
According to the Houston Chronicle, Oswalt has been told of the deal on the table and the terms. Of course, it is not a certainty that Oswalt approves the deal, even if he was the one who asked the Astros to move him to a contender.
Houston's Fox 26 had the initial report late last night.
The trading deadline is 4 p.m. Saturday.
Oswalt told reporters Wednesday that he would like to have some time to decide before the deadline, perhaps increasing the urgency for the sides to come to an agreement.
"You do need a little bit of time," Oswalt said, according to MLB.com. "I don't want it to be two hours before the Deadline and have to make a quick decision. I would rather have a little bit of time to think about it."
According to the Fox 26 report, the sides have agreed on how much salary the Astros are paying, and ESPN is saying it could be a "significant amount." Oswalt is owed about $5 million for the rest of this season and $16 million next season.
It is unclear whether the Phillies have agreed to pick up Oswalt's $16 million option in 2012. He has indicated a willingness to restructure his contract in the right situation. Of course, that option year would put a major dent in what is already shaping up to a big payroll for 2012. The Phillies have $40 million combined due to Ryan Howard and Roy Halladay alone.
Phillies officials were not available this morning for comment. Houston GM Ed Wade has declined comment.
Foxsports.com reported earlier this week that Oswalt was unwilling to come to Philadelphia and did not want to pitch on the East Coast.
Oswalt told the Houston Chronicle, in response, "That's not an issue. Like I said from the beginning, it's going to have work for both of us."
Oswalt is 6-12 with a 3.42 ERA in 129 innings with 120 strikeouts this season. His arrival would give the Phillies a strong 1-2-3 punch at the top of their rotation with Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels.
The Astros are off today and Oswalt is scheduled to pitch Friday night at home against Milwaukee. If the deal happens, Oswalt would leave the Astros franchise one shy of the team record for wins (144) held by Joe Neikro.
Initially, reports indicated that the Phillies and Astros were looking for a third team, possibly Tampa Bay to be involved in the deal. That no longer became the case when the Phillies could not trade rightfielder Jayson Werth, following Shane Victorino's injury earlier this week.
Happ, who returned to the big leagues Sunday after missing most of the season, was drafted by the Phillies in the third round in 2004, when current Astros GM Ed Wade was still the Phillies' GM. He is scheduled to make $470,000 this season and is still several years away from free agency. The Astros have scouted Happ twice over the last week and a half.
The Phillies have talent at the lower levels of the minors and the Astros have scouted Lakewood, including a visit from Wade himself. The package figures to be heavy on pitching, rather than position players. Speculation has that Vance Worley, who was with the Phillies over the weekend and started at Triple A Tuesday night, could be included.
Interestingly, the Phillies keep saying that you can never have too much pitching and they keep ending up with less depth than they started with each move.
Get over Lee. He wanted a 7 year deal-too long to tie up lots o money. Now you have another ace for 2010+2 time enough to win another championship.— maargo5- I get the feeling that Amaro is gonna have an eff all of you mode and do this deal, then take the money with Werth and Moyer gone next season and sign Lee in free agency. Doc, Roy, Hamels, Cliff....ok, I'm not awake but it sounds good anyway...— CMc62480
Comment removed.- as far as his back...think we learned our lesson with that chump from the whitesox garcia. a thorough physical will take place if this does happen— jrlwvu
- STOP CRYING OVER CLIFF LEE BEING GONE!! What's done is done, either deal with it or quit watching...you all sound like a bunch of babies!— ehpvirgo
- Amaro is a fool and I cannot fathom how he can even think about this trade since what we are doing here is exactly why we traded Lee (too much salary and need the prospects). This guy needs to own up to this monumental blunder since we will end up paying more for Oswalt than we paid for Lee for an inferior talent. I say don't do it and save the money to sign Werth I like the looks of the bookend 6'5" outfielders that can rake!!!— bigtuna
- So many of you people are the worst of philly fans. All RAJ has done since he got here was trade for 3 top pitchers, lock up Howard & Hamels with deals, and make the WS. I guess with the winning tradition of the town that's not enough for you. But keep whining we need to see more national articles about how lame philly fans are.— pgcd3
- we would get just as much production and success out of Happ. Oswalt is too old and injury-prone. I don't even want to get into what we would be paying Lee vs. Oswalt. But why don't we save the money we'd spend on Oswalt and sign Lee in the off-season!!— keapitreal
- I can't believe Howard has 89 years left on his contract!!!— tamgin43
- for the 'should've-kept-lee' crowd: after this year, lee will command a contract (5 for $75 million?) outside the phillies' ownership's payroll budget. if oswalt's option is restructured, he is here for at least 2.5 seasons something more than $25 million. if the phillies are in the playoffs the next 3 years and their pitchers are healthy, what team has better starting pitching?— cowpoke
- we need to keep singleton. he is 19 batting over .320 and will have over 20 homeruns this year. Why not rizzotti who is a 25 year old first baseman batting over .350 in double A, he certaintly will not see the majors with howard there but singleton can in five years. If they wait singleton may command a young top of the line starter by himself, not one at the end of his career. Why can't Happ pitch?— letsbehonest
- Include also M. Rizzotti to replace L.Berkmann at 1B.— Romus
- Awl, you have a pretty good educated guess how much someone is going to press in FA based on if they have already made a large amount of money in their lifetime, while Lee has made more than most non MLB players, he never has received a big pay day like Roy H. has, so he most likely would have wanted big money. I didn't and don't think it was a good idea to trade Lee, bc you get draft picks anyway at the end of the season, but they did and bet big on J.A. which didn't pan out. Besides J.A. was only supposed to be a #4 pictcher in the big leagues anyway, not saying that he will be a #4 pictcher, but I'd rather take Oswalt for 1.5 yrs and make a run for it rather than bank on J.A. Happ in the playoffs. The team make stink in 2012/2013 bc of the bloated payroll, but these last 5 years have been great and we have a chance for at least another 1.5 yrs to see some great baseball. Enjoy.— furio
- Oswalt for Happ??? STUPID, STUPID, STUPID........— JustaTXjock
- Don't do it. No way does getting Oswalt get them a WS championship. Still too many other issues. Stand pat and maybe Lee will be available next year.— Slidewell
