Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scor

Oswalt traded to Phillies

Thu 29th, July 2010

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Phillies completed their trade for Roy Oswalt on Thursday, acquiring the pitcher from the Houston Astros.

The Phillies also received cash considerations, and sent pitcher J.A. Happ and two prospects -- outfielder Anthony Gose and infielder Jonathan Villar -- to Houston.

Oswalt will make his first Phillies start Friday in Washington.

Oswalt is owed approximately $5 million for the remainder of this season. He's due to make $16 million next season and there is a mutual option of $16 million in 2012 or a $2 million buyout. While the amount of money the Phillies received was not disclosed, it is believed to be $11 million.

The 32-year-old Oswalt, who has only pitched for Houston over his 10-year career, is 6-12 with a 3.42 ERA this season, having received little run support from his team.

Oswalt continued to deal with lingering back problems this season, receiving several cortisone shots, but Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. said at a press conference Thursday that the club did its "due diligence" in checking out the issue. Amaro said the team felt like there were no structural issues, and feels like Oswalt can pitch up to his standards.

In 10 major league seasons Oswalt has posted a 143-82 record and 3.24 ERA in 303 games (291 starts). He was one victory shy of matching Joe Niekro as the all-time leader in Astros franchise history prior to being traded.

The addition of Oswalt gives the surging Phillies a powerful 1-2-3 punch in the rotation, led by Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels. Additionally, the Phillies acquired a frontline starter for the second straight season, having traded for Cliff Lee last year.

Lee helped the Phillies reach the World Series for a second consecutive year in 2009, and Philadelphia is hoping Oswalt will help the club in its push to get back there this year.

"They're human beings and you don't know how they'll perform, but I like our chances with the three pitchers at the top of our rotation," Amaro said.

Following Wednesday's games, the Phillies were on a season-best seven-game win streak and 3 1/2 games behind first-place Atlanta in the NL East standings. The Astros are well out of the playoff race at 42-59, and now lose the face of their rotation.

In return, Houston gets a young left-hander in Happ. The 27-year-old broke out in 2009, when he went 12-4 with a 2.93 earned run average in 35 games (23 starts). He had three complete games, two shutouts and finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Happ has made only three starts this season, as he went on the disabled list in April with a left forearm strain. On Sunday, Happ made his first start since returning from the DL, and is 1-0 with a 1.76 ERA this year.

Gose, 19, was a second-round selection by the Phillies in the 2008 draft, but did not spend much time within the Houston organization. Shortly after acquiring him, the Astros dealt him to Toronto for first base prospect Brett Wallace.

Gose was hitting .263 with 36 stolen bases with Single-A Clearwater this season.

The 19-year-old Villar was signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent in May 2008. He was hitting .272 with 38 steals for Single-A Lakewood.

Live Odds provided by :

Live Odds provided by :

Where the players come to play and STAY.

Per Head and Call Center Services.

Sportsbook & Sports Betting at SBG Global

Sports Sites

Sports Contests – Think you know the game?

Sports Information you need to win BIG.

Contact Us | Help | Site Map| Sport Links

Sportsbook Directory | Casinos Directory | Poker Room Directory | Racebook Directory | Partners Directory