It's Official: Phillies acquire Roy Oswalt

by Eli Greenspan on Jul 29, 2010 5:38 PM EDT Comment 4 comments

The Phillies have acquired pitcher Roy Oswalt from the Astros for pitcher J.A. Happ, infielder Jonathan Villar, and outfielder Anthony Gose. The Astros will pay 11 million of the 23 million remaining on his contract through 2011, and his 2012 mutual option is still up in the air, contrary to reports that he demanded it be exercised if a deal goes through.

The Astros actually made a corresponding move by sending Gose to the Blue Jays for first baseman Brett Wallace. Wallace, now with his fourth team, is having a great year posting a .301 average with 18 home runs and 61 RBIs. Wallace was drafted by the Cardinals, then traded to the A's in the Matt Holliday trade, then shipped to the Blue Jays in a corresponding move after the Roy Halladay trade, and is now with the Astros.

Gose is hitting just .263 but has already stole 36 bases and 28 extra-base hits. He projects down the road as a solid lead off hitter. I'm surprised the Jays gave up Wallace for a guy like Gose. Gose will be very beneficial for the club, but Wallace has the type of power that you do not find very often. It looks like the Astros made a great deal.

Villar is also a fast infielder, posting a .272 average and 38 stolen bases in 100 games this season. He is still in Class-A, but he could be a solid infielder for a big league club in the future.

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Wallace

Berkman must be on the way out as well then. I would assume they call up Wallace immediately, and deal Berkman to the White Sox or Rays or something for a prospect.

This deal is a steal for the Astros, imo.

by backtocali on Jul 30, 2010 9:41 AM EDT reply actions

Wallace is a goo pickup, but I wouldn’t call this a steal for the Astros. They have to pay $11 million of Oswalts salary. I think that is a little high to call this a steal. Granted they didn’t have much leverage because everyone knew Oswalt wanted out, but still.

Why not us? Why not now?

by Expos4 on Jul 30, 2010 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions

I figured Oswalts Surplus value

At around $15 million (with the $11mm the Astros threw in).

Wallace alone is worth $20mm as a prospect, throw in another $8 or so for Happ and a couple for the 3rd guy in the trade, looks pretty good for the Astros.

They did wind up saving themselves $12 million in the future. I wonder if they can get a nice return now for Berkman.

by backtocali on Jul 30, 2010 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions