Sporting News staff reports
Houston television station KRIV reported early Thursday that the Astros have agreed to trade right-hander Roy Oswalt to the Philadelphia Phillies and have asked Oswalt to approve the deal.
KRIV sports director Mark Berman reported the club approached Oswalt about waiving his no-trade clause. Oswalt can veto any trade, but he has said he’d do it to play for a contender. The Phillies are on a seven-game winning streak and trail the Braves by 3 1/2 games in the NL East.
Berman’s report does not include whom the Phillies would be giving up, though many media members have speculated left-hander J.A. Happ would be part of any Oswalt trade. Berman also didn’t say whether other clubs are involved; there have been reports a third team was needed to help the Phillies fit Oswalt under their payroll.
Houston general manager Ed Wade declined to comment when contacted late Wednesday by MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart. Oswalt could not be reached for comment, McTaggart reported.
Earlier Wednesday, Astros’ owner Drayton McLane put the odds of an Oswalt trade at 60-40 in favor.
"I’d say it’s about 60 percent that something could be done and 40 percent that Roy will be here next year," McLane told the Houston Chronicle’s Zachary Levine.
Oswalt, who is scheduled to start Friday, said he wanted to have sufficient time to ponder waiving his no-trade rights.
"I’m hoping I’m not going to get it dropped on me an hour before (Saturday’s 4 p.m. ET) deadline to give me a little bit of time to think about it, but I think it will work out," Oswalt told Levine.
General manager Ed Wade said he wouldn’t rush a deal to accommodate Oswalt.
"We’ll use all the time allotted to us," Wade told Levine. "If there’s the right decision to be made sooner rather than later, we’ll make it, otherwise, we’ll use all the time available to try to make the right decisions."
The Chronicle reported the Cardinals, who were once considered the front-runners to land him, were now long shots. The Phillies have long been working to obtain Oswalt, but it was believed a deal may have hit a snag over money. Oswalt is guaranteed more than $25 million over the length of his contract, and he also has a $16 million option for 2012. There have been conflicting reports about whether Oswalt would insist on his new team picking up the option.
Sporting News staff reports
Houston television station KRIV reported early Thursday that the Astros have agreed to trade right-hander Roy Oswalt to the Philadelphia Phillies and have asked Oswalt to approve the deal.
KRIV sports director Mark Berman reported the club approached Oswalt about waiving his no-trade clause. Oswalt can veto any trade, but he has said he’d do it to play for a contender. The Phillies are on a seven-game winning streak and trail the Braves by 3 1/2 games in the NL East.
Berman’s report does not include whom the Phillies would be giving up, though many media members have speculated left-hander J.A. Happ would be part of any Oswalt trade. Berman also didn’t say whether other clubs are involved; there have been reports a third team was needed to help the Phillies fit Oswalt under their payroll.
Houston general manager Ed Wade declined to comment when contacted late Wednesday by MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart. Oswalt could not be reached for comment, McTaggart reported.
Earlier Wednesday, Astros’ owner Drayton McLane put the odds of an Oswalt trade at 60-40 in favor.
"I’d say it’s about 60 percent that something could be done and 40 percent that Roy will be here next year," McLane told the Houston Chronicle’s Zachary Levine.
Oswalt, who is scheduled to start Friday, said he wanted to have sufficient time to ponder waiving his no-trade rights.
"I’m hoping I’m not going to get it dropped on me an hour before (Saturday’s 4 p.m. ET) deadline to give me a little bit of time to think about it, but I think it will work out," Oswalt told Levine.
General manager Ed Wade said he wouldn’t rush a deal to accommodate Oswalt.
"We’ll use all the time allotted to us," Wade told Levine. "If there’s the right decision to be made sooner rather than later, we’ll make it, otherwise, we’ll use all the time available to try to make the right decisions."
The Chronicle reported the Cardinals, who were once considered the front-runners to land him, were now long shots. The Phillies have long been working to obtain Oswalt, but it was believed a deal may have hit a snag over money. Oswalt is guaranteed more than $25 million over the length of his contract, and he also has a $16 million option for 2012. There have been conflicting reports about whether Oswalt would insist on his new team picking up the option.