Oswalt: Thanks for the memories
(c) Houston Astros
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All three sides gave a little more than they probably wanted and it led to a trade that sent Roy Oswalt to the Philadelphia Phillies, along with $11 million dollars for lefthander J.A. Happ and two A-ball minor leaguers - OF Anthony Gose and IF Jonathan Villar. Oswalt agreed to the trade without the Phillies taking his $16 million option for 2012 but, it is rumored, he's receiving a $1 million bonus for waiving the no-trade clause and a likelihood of having the option revisited at a later time. The Houston ace was 143-82 over 10 seasons with the Astros, one win shy of Joe Niekro's franchise record for victories.
After the deal was done, the Astros sent Gose to the Toronto Blue Jays for AAA first baseman Brett Wallace, who was drafted a few picks behind Jason Castro in the 2008 summer draft. Wallace is slated to go to Round Rock unless Houston is successful in dealing their other aging star, Lance Berkman, before Saturday's 3 p.m. Central trading deadline. Rumors have some interest from the Angels and White Sox but Berkman, like Oswalt, has a no-trade clause and an option that may become obstacles.
As strange as it is to see all the media photos of Oswalt in his 1980s throwback uniform worn in his last start, it will look even stranger to see him wearing a Phillies uniform when he tosses against the Washington Nationals on Friday. Oswalt wanted to have another chance at winning a Worlds Series ring and knew that wouldn't happen in Houston for a few years. The two-time National League Champion Phils boast some great talent so Roy will not have to be the ace, a feeling he last knew in 2006 when he pitched alongside Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte.
Villar is a Dominican middle infielder with great speed and below-average power but he is just 19 and has several years to develop. Wallace, a converted third baseman from Arizona State, is 23 and might be better served to spend one more year at AAA, even though he was hitting .301 with 18 homers in Las Vegas. While ranked as the 27th-best prospect by Baseball America, some feel he has underachieved this season while adjusting to a new position.
Happ, 27, was a surprise hero for the Phillies as a rookie last year but has battled elbow trouble this season. If he stays healthy, he can be a very sharp lefty (14-5 career as a Phillie) who won't be a free agent until after the 2014 season. He is likely to take Oswalt's spot in the rotation and could start Friday against the Brewers' Manny Parra in the 7:05 Central opener at Minute Maid.
Some, of course, are disappointed to see Oswalt go but the Astros are committing themselves to a rebuilding program and will experience setbacks before returning to the top of the Central Division. Thursday's trade marks the point of no return for Astros fans torn between the club's proud past and their uncertain future. It will be a bumpy ride, but one that hopefully leads to a better decade.
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