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.
As Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth would say, "Let's go, Dammitt!!"— ericrobinson- Ruben, you were a fine player, but your NO BOBBY wINE!!— Lynnwood
- @BOSTON STRANGELR... yes RAJ screwed up with the Lee deal. maybe. GOT IT!!! now shut up. lee is NOT coming back. When do IDIOTS like you STOP talking about it? 2012? 2015? 2020?— wxdavid
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- word is the astros would eat a possibly significant amount of salary for this year and next..if thats the deal, and its Happ and a couple of non-elite prospects, how can we not take that chance? some fans are overrating happ based on last years overachieving... yes, i would rather have kept lee, but that is not an option here..im fine with this option...though wonder if Ruben knows Oswalt wont accept and he can say "hey, i tried"— jim715
- Yeah, but can he play goalie?— Echo
- The difference between Lee and Oswalt is he is signed for years beyond 2010. That was the whole purpose of acquiring Halladay, it gave us an ace beyond 2010. You only need to look at this year with all the injuries to understand that you can't go all in for a year. You need to build a team that is sustained for years, which gives you multiple shots at a championship and you hope the stars align. Can anyone of you honestly say given all the injuries we would be that much better with Cliff Lee?— booman55
- I have an idea for everyone on here. SHUT THE HECK UP. STOP BEING NEGADELPHIA AND STOP YOUR WHINING AND CRYING AND COMPLAINING LIKE A BUNCH OF LITTLE GIRLS. STOP WHINING ABOUT NOT HAVING LEE, STOP WHINING ABOUT HOW BAD RUBEN AMARO IS, JUST STOP WHINING PERIOD. JUST ENJOY THE FREAKING SEASON! THE PHILS ARE GETTING HOT, THEY'RE ABOUT TO PICK UP ANOTHER #1 PITCHER TO IMPROVE THEY'RE TEAM AND COULD POSSIBLY GET TO AND WIN ANOTHER WORLD SERIES. IF THEY GET OSWALT THEN THEY ARE SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER TEAM TODAY THAN THEY WERE YESTERDAY. PLEASE SOMEONE TELL HOW THIS IS A BAD THING. AM I MISSING SOMETHING HERE? WHERES THE PART I SHOULD BE ANGRY ABOUT? HOW DARE THEY GO AND GET A #1 PITCHER!! MAYBE THERE ARE BIGGER NEEDS ON THIS TEAM, BUT THE POINT IS THEY ARE MAKING A MOVE THAT IN SOME WAY SHAPE OR FORM VERY MUCH IMPROVES THEIR TEAM. CALL ME CRAZY BUT I THINK THATS A GOOD THING. STOP WHINING!!!— philliekev04
- Save the cash to re-sign Werth & TRY to get Cliff Lee back again for next season once his stint with Texas is done. Ship off Shane and let's get this ship back on course! Keep Happ and deal Blanton and Lidge to neverland.
- It would be a good addition if we stole Oswalt off of Houston. Oswalt is on the downside of his career, tremendously overrated at this point in his career. He would be an upgrade to join the staff, but we are deep enough to give up young arms for a guy who is always dinged up.— bobmc
- OSWALTS STSTS... which according to half of you are NOT as good as Happs...LOL 2001 14-3 2.73 era whip 1.06 2002 19-9 3.01 1.19 2003 10-5 2.97 1.14 2004 20-10 3.49 1.24 2005 20-12 2.94 1.20 2006 15-8 2.98 1.17 2007 14-7 3.18 1.33 2008 17-10 3.54 1.18 2009 8-6 4.12 1.11— wxdavid
- Philly fans: passion over brains every time. That's why I love you guys. HOWEVER, lets debunk a couple myths here: "Roy Oswalt is old". Really? He's only a year older than Cliff Lee. "Cliff Lee is a better pitcher." Really? Since 2002, Lee is 99-56, 3.81 ERA, with 1,014 SO. Since 2001, Oswalt is 143-82 (on a *bad* team), 3.24 ERA, with 1,593 SO."This deal stinks" Really? We haven't even heard the details yet (I mean, this *is* Ed Wade we're talking about here), and we'll I like J.A. Happ, trust me, he's no Roy Oswalt.— 3-hit shutout
- they need bullpen help NOT oswalt,will this team ever stop solely dealing with e. wade?— only 9
- RAJ keeps making lateral moves. sure, the first three slots in the rotation will be fine, but you'll still be stuck with Kendrick and Blanton, if you move Happ and Worley you have NO major league ready pitchers anytime soon. Whether you l;ove Happ or not the Phils won about 70% of the games he pitched, replaciong him with Oswalt really doesn't improve the team, and pretty much wipes out the future. But if he wants to go all in for the 2010 playoffs, fine, but with this guy's medical history it's going to come back to haunt them fairly soon.— drbob1
