Houston, TX (Sports Network) - The Houston Astros reportedly have a deal in
place to send starting pitcher Roy Oswalt to the Philadelphia Phillies.
FOX 26 in Houston reports the only thing standing in the way is for the right-
hander to waive his no-trade clause. Sources have told the TV station the
teams have agreed on the amount of money Houston would take back in the deal
and the teams have reached an accord on which players the Phillies would send
the Astros.
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 club option of $16 million
in 2012 or a $2 million buyout.
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. He's lost his last two starts,
but has received little run support from his team. In fact, the Astros have
scored two runs or less each of the last six times he's pitched.
With 143 wins, Oswalt is one victory shy of matching Joe Niekro as the all-
time leader in Astros franchise history.
If the three-time All-Star lands in Philadelphia, it would give the surging
Phillies a powerful 1-2-3 punch in the rotation, led by Roy Halladay and
followed by Cole Hamels.
The Phillies have won a season-best seven games in a row and are 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.
