Reports: Your move, Roy
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Reports: Your move, Roy
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
And now we wait. Apparently. Maybe. Possibly.
Multiple outlets are reporting what KRIV-TV in Houston first reported early Thursday morning: The Phillies and Astros have agreed upon a package of players to be exchanged for righthander Roy Oswalt. The trade has been presented to Oswalt, who has a full no-trade clause, for his consideration.
The two teams have also reportedly agreed on a way to handle the remainder of Oswalt's salary. ESPN is reporting the Phillies have asked the Astros to pay a "significant portion" of the $5 million Oswalt is due for the remainder of this season plus the $16 million Oswalt is due in 2011.
Then, of course, there is the $16 million club option for 2012.
That has been the sticking point all along, a baseball source told The Inquirer earlier in the week.
"Oswalt has [Astros general manager] Ed Wade and everybody else at his mercy because of that no-trade clause," the source said. "I know the Phillies thought they were close to having it done last week, but I think the difference was that option year."
The Phillies and Astros could think they are close to a deal again, but it's all in Oswalt's hands now.
If Houston is to pay a "significant portion" of the money due to Oswalt, that would require the Phillies to surrender better players in return for the pitcher. Lefthander J.A. Happ would go in a deal. So too would righthander Vance Worley, whom The Inquirer first reported was a Houston target.
Beyond that, one or two of the Lakewood pitchers could go: From Jarred Cosart to Brody Colvin to Trevor May or Josh Zeid. Jonathan Singleton has been mentioned as a possible player to move, but the Phillies have insisted before he be kept out of talks.
Initially, the Phillies had hoped to move Jayson Werth, a free agent at season's end, to another contender in return for prospects. Those prospects could be flipped to Houston in a deal for Oswalt.
But now, since Werth is not likely to be traded with Shane Victorino out at least three weeks, the Phillies would have to take on the additional payroll in an Oswalt deal and also surrender some of their prospects.
There are so many things to consider with a possible deal. One: If the Phillies agreed to guarantee Oswalt's $16 million option year, they will have committed $100.45 million to eight players for the 2012 season. That's just not going to work, unless management is committed to expanding the payroll.
That is likely why the Phillies have asked the Astros to pay some of Oswalt's salary.
Two: Cliff Lee? OK, we said it.
At this point, it would be shocking if Oswalt put the kibosh on the trade. No, he may not want to play in Philadelphia. But he demanded a trade back in May. If his monetary demands can be met (by both the Astros and Phillies chipping in cash), how could he reject the deal? He would have the chance to play for a contender.
And so we wait.
Philly fans are really something. Last year they were crucifying Amaro for not getting Halliday and settling for Lee. Now they're still crucifying him for getting Halliday and losing Lee. Miserable, miserable people. Now he's going to get Oswalt but they b&*ch because he's going to have to give something up for him and his back might be bad. Cliff Lee, Cliff Lee, Cliff Lee, Cliff Lee.— cupajoe- Of course fans (and media) are going to continue to bring up Cliff Lee, because it was an obviously dumb move. If Lee was kept you would have Lee for the entire season, Happ, and the three minor leaguers mentioned in the trade for Oswalt (but not the three "top" prospects received for Lee: Gilles, Aumont, and Ramirez). By trading Lee and subsequently adding Oswalt, you have Oswalt for 1/3 of the season, but give up Lee, Happ, and three decent minor leaguers. If Amaro had to trade Lee to re-stock the minor league system with low-level prospects, then what logical sense does it make to trade your #4 starter and three decent prospects for Oswalt? There is no way Amaro can make a logical argument for his trade of Lee. If the Phils had kept Lee, they would have a better starting pitcher for an entire season, a 27 yr-old #4 starter, AND be in overall better shape in the farm system.— MrPhillie
- If the Astros pick up $12 million of Oswalt's salary it means we add $5 mil of payroll this year, win the world series (we hope) and only add $4 mil next year for Roy friggin Oswalt. I will take Oswalt at $4 million over Happ and anyone else anytime. It means we could even still feasibly re-sign Werth. If Houston really does cover all that money, this is a great deal.
- Don't do it. The bell of trading Lee and getting nothing back can not be unrung. To give away more players including potential farm players is just NUTS !!!! Stay the course, accept what you have done.— lerze77
- I don't know about this guy. If he has the disk problems I've heard of, this could just blow up in our face.— CrankyVoter
- wxdavid: Your trotting out Oswalt stats from 8 and 9 years ago is LAUGHABLE! Please retire from this board before you further embarrass yourself!— jman
- Stark says Oswalt dosen't like The Bank, although he has great #s there in 4 starts. Does he mean he dosen't like the "Park" or dosen't care fo the "People in the Park"? Sooooo tired of hearing about Lee. Get over it.— Chutley26
- MrPhillie, you've hit the nail on the head. Some of the brainless around here (RAJ, wxdavid) need to read that again!— jman
- Some of you guys kill me...They are trading Happ for him b/c ability, not b/c they don't like him. Second of all, all season long he hasn't looked good. About Lee, yes we could have had him for 9 mill, but we got our "prospects". We might now get Oswalt, lets just see how helps us out towards the finish line to the— phigglesfan75
- Yes. Losing Lee to the Mariners was a mistake. Let's all get over it. Let's move on, get Oswalt in a Phillies' uniform and go to the World Series again for THREE YEARS IN A ROW. WOW!!!— Reinholds
- You have got to be kidding me. Obviously Oswalt, who asked for a trade, is not enamored of the Phils. Call this lousy deal off. Keep Happ, and be much the better for it. Happ and Hamels are the future of the Phils rotation after Halladay burns out. Better deal is to stand pat then sign Cliff Lee over the winter. If you must trade someone, trade Kendrick or Blanton and Ibanez [now that he's hitting!] and get a reliever and a couple of prospects. Bring up Mayberry for left field.— ngfs66
- RE: the Mayberry Fan, Be careful what you hope for, he STILL cant hit the breaking ball.— mick314
- Only in Philadelphia would the front office of a 3 time defending division champ, 2 time defending NL champ and '08 WFC be lambasted like this for trying to add a third number 1 starter to the rotation for the stretch run. The team is charging toward the playoffs and this move only makes them stronger.— bryneb
- "jaysonst Roy Oswalt plans to OK deal to #Phillies, source says. But deal not official yet. More to come on ESPN.com #trades"— stormrider
- Oswalt agreed to accept trade per Jayson Stark— themadhacker2000
