Oswalt dealt to the Phils for three players

By: Scott Ciglinsky
PhillySportsSpace Staff Writer
sciglinsky@phillysportsspace.com
July 29, 2010

The Houston Astros have agreed to a trade sending ace right-hander Roy Oswalt along with cash to the Phillies for left-hander J.A. Happ, minor league outfielder Anthony Gose and shortstop Jonathan Villar.

Oswalt, 32, is 6-12 with a 3.42 ERA inside 129.0 innings pitched he has given up only 34 walks with an impressive 120 strikeouts.

Happ, 27, strained his left elbow on April 15. He only has made three starts this season. He is 1-0 with a 1.76 ERA in three starts with the Phils.

Gose, 19, is hitting .263 with four home runs and 20 RBIs for single-A Clearwater. He has 36 stolen bases but has been caught stealing 27 times.

Villar, 19, is hitting .272 with four triples and 38 stolen bases while being caught 13 times inside 100 games for single-A Lakewood. His fielding is a major concern with an eye popping 42 errors.

The Astros will pay $11 million of the approximately $23 million that the 32-year-old right-hander is guaranteed through 2011, sources said.

Oswalt is a three-time All-Star and has finished in the top five of the National League Cy Young voting five times in 10 career seasons, all with the Astros. For his career, Oswalt is 143-82 with a 3.24 ERA.

Oswalt and Happ were both scheduled to start tomorrow. Oswalt told MLB.com that he will be making this start for the Phillies.

Jayson Stark of ESPN said the Astros have pressed hard for first baseman Jonathan Singleton, 18, who now is the best minor league hitting prospect with the recent call-up of Domonic Brown.

Singleton is currently at single-A Lakewood, where he was hitting .312 with 18 doubles and 12 home runs as of Thursday. Some team officials believe he can make a shift to the outfield if Ryan Howard is still blocking his path at first base in the future.

The Phillies still remain in the hunt for possible bullpen help. Stay tuned.