The Phillies got their man this afternoon according to FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal. The Phils sent left-handed pitcher J.A. Happ, minor leage outfielder Anthony Gose, and minor league shortstop Jonathan Villar to the Astros for starting pitcher Roy Oswalt.
The Astros will also pay $11 million of an approximate $23 millon owed to Oswalt through 2011.
From Rosenthal:
In exchange for Oswalt waiving his no-trade clause, he will receive an increase in one part of the buyout of his $16 million mutual option for 2012.
If the Phillies pick up their end of the option, Oswalt can decline his end, become a free agent and receive a $2 million buyout instead of the $1 million in his current deal.
If Oswalt chooses to decline the option on his own, he also will receive a $2 million buyout.
Of those prospects I think Villar offered the most long-term upside to the Phillies. Although he’s made upwards of 40 errors this season at Lakewood, he’s only 19-years-old and has shown great promise both at the plate (.272/.332/.358) and on the base paths (38 steals).
With no other discernible short stop prospects in the minors, Villar was the only possible long-term replacement for a seemingly fragile Jimmy Rollins.
Happ, of course, offered great value to the Astros. He’s a talented and cheap ($470,000) starting pitcher who’ll be under their control until 2015.
While he’s yet to have a true breakthrough season, Happ has showed great promise in his stint with the Phillies last year.
Gose, like Villar, is only 19-years-old, and playing at High-A Clearwater he was very impressive. He’s hitting decently (.263/.325/.385) as their lead-off hitter, but his bread and butter is his blazing speed (37 steals and 11 triples).
He needs some refinement in his technique - he’s been caught 27 times - but that can be learned.
Gose also is a premium defensive outfielder, using his speed to run down balls and using an arm that many scouts thought was good enough to get Gose drafted as a power pitcher. Think Michael Bourn with a good arm.
I think Ed Wade has once again made the Phillies a better team by being the Astros GM. While I like Villar and Gose as prospects, the Phils were able to acquire a top of the rotation pitcher plus $11M without giving up any of their premium prospects (Jonathan Singleton, Jarred Cosart, Brody Colvin, Trevor May, or Domonic Brown).
I won’t say the Phils fleeced Wade completely, but Philadelphia GM Ruben Amaro may have helped redeem himself a little bit in the eyes of some very disgruntled fans.
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