For the third time in about a year the Phillies have added an ace to their rotation, the team confirmed Thursday afternoon.
One year to the day that general manager Ruben Amaro traded for Cliff Lee and about eight months after wrangling Roy Halladay out of Toronto, the Phillies have yet again landed another team’s ace pitcher.
Ladies and gentleman of Phillies nation -- welcome former Astros’ ace Roy Oswalt to the Phightin Phils.
The 32-year-old righty ended a day of speculation Thursday afternoon by officially waiving his no-trade clause and agreeing to wear red pinstripes, the pitcher told My Fox Houston’s Mark Berman.
Earlier Thursday various reports stated that Amaro and former Phillies GM/current Astros GM Ed Wade had agreed on the trade.
Of course all aces come at a price. The Phillies sent 2009 Rookie-of-the-Year runner-up J.A. Happ, Single-A outfielder Anthony Gose and Single-A shortstop Jonathan Villar.
"It's exciting for sure," Oswalt told MLB.com. "I think it works out for both of us. Houston's getting good prospects and another pitcher, and I'm getting to go to a great team. I'm happy for both sides. From the very beginning, I said I wouldn't accept it unless it worked out for both of us, and I think it worked out."
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It seems that Houston kicked in "cash considerations" -- around $11 million, said ESPN -- to cover some of the $23 (including buyout) owed to Oswalt through the 2011 season.
The move definitely bolsters the Phillies pitching staff this season. But it also shows that the Phils basically realized that they made a big mistake by dealing Lee when they got Halladay and leaving only two top pitchers (including Cole Hamels) in the rotation.
Oswalt had spent his entire career in Houston where he posted an impressive 143-82 record with a 3.24 ERA over 10 seasons. He has finished in the Top-5 for Cy Young voting five times but has never won the award like Lee and Halladay did before joining the Phils.
But he had fallen on hard times in 2010 as he leads the league with 12 losses despite still posting a respectable 3.42 ERA.
Oswalt was mired on a bad team in Houston but now should get a chance to possibly return to the postseason with the Phightins. And once he gets there expect big things -- he is 4-0 with a 3.66 ERA in eight postseason appearances.
Oswalt will be joining his new team on the road. He will take Happ’s turn in the rotation Friday at Washington.
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