Trading prospects for proven aces has taken toll only financially for Phillies

Chicago might not be the most logical place to start when looking at the Phillies' recent acquisition of Roy Oswalt, but for those who are interested in the decision-making that went into the deal, it was impossible to ignore the White Sox' 4-1 victory over the Athletics.

On an otherwise anonymous Sunday afternoon, two young starters making $3.15 million between them combined to throw 15 innings, with five earned runs, 10 hits and 16 strikeouts between them.

The performances would be irrelevant, except for one fact: Four years ago, A's lefthander Gio Gonzalez and White Sox righthander Gavin Floyd were both in the Phillies' farm system.

In the 3 1/2 years since the Phillies shipped Floyd and Gonzalez to the White Sox for soon-to-be-injured starter, Freddy Garcia, they have fared far better in their attempts at bolstering their major league rotation through name-brand additions. Kyle Lohse, Joe Blanton and Cliff Lee all played pivotal roles in the club's three consecutive postseason berths, and Roy Halladay is doing the same this season.

But while the Garcia situation may have proven to be a small smudge in a blueprint that ultimately resulted in a world title, it does illustrate the sacrifices involved when cheap depth and potential are exchanged for expensive upgrades.

In little more than a year, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has moved boldly to trade for three pitchers - Lee, Halladay, Oswalt - who have combined to finish in the Top 5 in Cy Young voting 12 times. In exchange, he has parted with three young pitchers - Carlos Carrasco, Kyle Drabek, J.A. Happ - who are either major league ready or close to it.

In 2007 and 2008, the Phillies traded away four other young starters who have combined to start 112 games in the majors in 2009 and 2010. Floyd and Gonzalez, later traded to the A's, are both fixtures in their team's rotations this season. Lefty Josh Outman, dealt for Blanton in July 2008, started 12 games and posted a 3.48 ERA last season before undergoing elbow surgery. Lefty Matt Maloney, dealt in 2007 for Lohse, has allowed four earned runs in 11 2/3 innings in two starts for the Reds this season and is 9-5 with a 2.91 ERA in 18 starts at Triple A.

It is difficult to argue the return. Since 2007, the Phillies have accumulated seven postseason series, a world title, and a present-day rotation that features two veteran ace-quality starters.

But for every opportunity there is a cost, and for the Phillies that means seven young pitchers who could still be under club control and roughly $39.5 million in payroll space for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

It also means that their success from now until the end of next season depends on whether or not the depth and payroll flexibility they have sacrificed catches up to them.

Amaro acknowledged this observation after trading for Oswalt. While the Phils landed a pitcher who has been one of the most durable and consistent starters in the NL over the last eight seasons, they also parted with a 27-year-old lefty in Happ who will not become a free agent until, at the earliest, 2014.

Oswalt has a longer track record than Happ, who went 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA in 2009 but battled a sore elbow that only recently saw him return to action. But while the Phillies may have added another ace, they did not add any more depth. And while Astros GM Ed Wade demanded such a sacrifice, a GM peddling a lesser-caliber pitcher might not have.

"It made it a difficult decision, there's no question," Amaro said. "Is it risky? Yes, absolutely it is. Low salary, controllable starting pitchers are a premium, and that's why Ed, I think, was pretty aggressive with this trade. But I think with the overall level of consistency that Roy would bring us, I think that was the biggest reason why we went ahead and made the move."

Oswalt is one of five starters the Phils control through at least 2011. Assuming everybody stays healthy and effective, the rotation is set. But that hasn't been the case in any of the last three seasons. In 2008, the Phils sent a struggling Brett Myers down to the minors. Last year, Myers missed most of the year with a hip injury, and Jamie Moyer later joined him on the DL. This year, Moyer suffered a season-ending elbow injury, and Joe Blanton missed the first month of the season with a strained oblique.

Right now, however, the Phillies have no obvious back-up plan. In 2008, they traded for Blanton (and also had Happ at Triple A). Last year, they dealt for Cliff Lee and signed Pedro Martinez. This year, Kyle Kendrick was called up from Triple A.

Next year, the Phillies' top two minor league options will likely be Vance Worley and Andrew Carpenter, neither of whom is regarded as a top prospect (then again, neither was Happ when the Phils called him up). At minimum, the Phillies have $135.35 million committed to 16 players next year. Factor in arbitration raises for Ben Francisco and likely Super-Two Kendrick, and that number would sit around $138 million, higher than this year's Opening Day payroll of about $137 million. The payroll will likely rise. But, Amaro said, "we don't have unlimited funds." Which translates into limited flexibility to sign or trade for quality depth, whether it is another starter, or a back-up infielder, or a righthanded outfielder, or relievers for four open bullpen spots. Which means that the Phillies will likely call on a reserve of young talent that they have depleted while building the bulging payroll they must now off-set.

"We're going to have to have low-cost, low-salary, low-major-league-service players," Amaro said. "Overall, while we have brought in free agents, I think we also have had players come in [from the minor leagues] and make some level of impact at the major league level. We have to have that happen. Otherwise, we won't be viable."

For more Phillies coverage and opinion, read David Murphy's blog, High Cheese, at http://go.philly.com/highcheese. Follow him on Twitter at

http://twitter.com/HighCheese.