Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Astros Rumors

Sherman On Oswalt, Harden, Yankees, Padres

By | at

The latest from Joel Sherman of the New York Post:

  • Executives from other teams had no idea the Astros were willing to take on $11MM of Roy Oswalt's remaining $23.5MM.
  • The Mets have discussed Rich Harden internally.  He's a potential August trade candidate.
  • The Yankees have talked to the Rockies in search of a complementary bat, but discussions didn't go anywhere.
  • Officials from multiple teams are upset that the Rangers continue adding salary.
  • The Padres remain in pursuit of a lefty-hitting outfielder.  Sherman wonders if Kosuke Fukudome or Rick Ankiel could be fits.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Berkman, Dunn, Dodgers

By | at

On this date two years ago, Ichiro Suzuki picked up his 3,000th career hit with a first inning single against the Rangers. The hit was his 1,722nd in the big leagues, which came after he racked up 1,278 hits with the Orix Blue Wave in Japan's Pacific League. Including the postseason, the 36-year-old Ichiro has 3,456 career base hits to his credit, a staggering number no matter how you look at it.

Here is the latest from around the baseball blogosphere, a day before the non-waiver trade deadline…

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here.

Gose-Wallace Trade Reactions

By | at

Baseball America represents the industry consensus, and given the players' respective rankings it follows that most teams value Brett Wallace more than Anthony Gose.  That Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos made the swap with the Astros yesterday anyway shows that he values his army of scouts over the industry consensus, as he should.  When Anthopoulos came on board he built the largest scouting staff in the Majors and Wallace for Gose represents an interesting test case.  More thoughts on the deal…

  • Anthopoulos explained the trade to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian. He's attempted to acquire Gose from the Phillies multiple times before, and sees him as a potential impact center fielder.  Upside over certainty.
  • ESPN's Keith Law says this trade "could not possibly make less sense to me," and views Wallace as "twice as valuable a prospect as Gose."
  • Dustin Parkes of Drunk Jays Fans points out that value has been lost by the Jays at some point.  His colleague Andrew Stoeten isn't concerned about that, but wonders if the deal is "indicative of an organizational shift regarding the timeline for contention."  He also wonders if the Blue Jays feel they are "jumping off on [Wallace] before his value drops."

Odds & Ends: Cardinals, Abreu, Mets, Edmonds

By | at

A few assorted links, as the trading finally picks up…

Ted Lilly Rumors: Thursday

By | at

The latest on Cubs lefty Ted Lilly…

  • The Tigers are not pursuing Lilly, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
  • The Twins, who are on Lilly's no-trade list, are unlikely to acquire him, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter). 
  • The Mets are still engaging the Cubs about Lilly, according to Newsday's Ken Davidoff, who suggests a deal is unlikely (Twitter link). The Mets don't want to trade Josh Thole for Lilly, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (Twitter link).
  • A Mets official told Joel Sherman of the New York Post it's "very doubtful" they acquire Lilly.  The Mets do not want to take on most to all of the $4.37MM left on Lilly's contract and give up prospects too.  As for Brett Myers, the Astros are "almost completely unwilling to engage in serious discussions."  Sherman says the Mets might wait until August to acquire a pitcher.
  • Yesterday we learned that the Dodgers and Twins are still in on Lilly.

Astros Discussing Berkman Deals

By | at

5:41pm: The White Sox consider Berkman a backup plan since they don't expect to acquire Adam Dunn, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter).

4:14pm: The Astros are discussing possible trades involving Lance Berkman, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported this afternoon (via Twitter) that a high-ranking executive told him the Astros could move Berkman and start rebuilding.

Like former teammate Roy Oswalt, who was traded to Philadelphia earlier today, Berkman has a no-trade clause and can veto any deal. About $5.4MM remains on Berkman's $14.5MM salary this season. The Astros hold a $15MM option for next year, but they can buy it out for $2MM. Berkman is hitting .245/.372/.436 so far in 2010.

Astros, Blue Jays Swap Anthony Gose & Brett Wallace

By | at

Just minutes after the Astros officially acquired Anthony Gose, they sent him to the Blue Jays for Brett Wallace. The Blue Jays obtained Wallace for Michael Taylor last winter right after the Roy Halladay trade. Now, the first baseman could become the heir to Lance Berkman in Houston. 

The Blue Jays believe Gose, 19, is an "athletic, Gold Glove caliber center fielder," Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos told the FAN 590. They tried to acquire him in the Halladay deal and again this spring. Meanwhile, Astros GM Ed Wade says Wallace is a "hitting machine," according to Alyson Footer of the Astros (via Twitter).

ESPN's Jayson Stark first reported that the Astros were sending Gose to Toronto and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported on Twitter that the Astros were getting Wallace in return. The Blue Jays confirmed the trade.

Phillies Acquire Roy Oswalt

By | at

Just one win shy of the Astros' franchise win record, Roy Oswalt is leaving the only team he's ever known.  The 32-year-old righty approved a trade to the Phillies, who sent J.A. Happ and low minors prospects Anthony Gose and Jonathan Villar to Houston for Oswalt and $11MM.  The Astros then flipped Gose to the Blue Jays.  The Phillies will not pick up Oswalt's 2012 option, but will add $1MM to the buyout as compensation.  Seven months after trading Cliff Lee to the Mariners for prospects, the Phillies added a different ace to their rotation to support Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels.  Oswalt has a 3.42 ERA, 8.4 K/9, and 2.4 BB/9 in 20 starts this year.

Oswalt asked the Astros for a trade in late May, and talks ensued with the Phillies, Cardinals, Rangers, Padres, and Dodgers, among others.  Astros owner Drayton McLane dealt directly with Phillies president David Montgomery to complete the complicated trade.  As expected, Oswalt's full no-trade clause, his 2012 option, and the $23.46MM guaranteed to him through '11 were significant obstacles.

Happ, 27, finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting last year with a 2.93 ERA in 166 innings.  However, he's tallied only 53 pro innings in 2010 due to an April forearm injury. Happ won't go to arbitration until after the 2011 season and the Astros control his rights through 2014.

Gose, a speedy center fielder playing at the High A level, was ranked sixth among the team's prospects by Baseball America heading into the season.  He rates highly for his speed, defense, and arm tools, but remains a work in progress.

Villar, a shortstop in Low A ball, was ranked 22nd among Phillies prospects heading into the season.  The results haven't been there yet but BA says he has "plus tools across the board except for power."

Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston first reported the agreement late Wednesday night, while Ken Rosenthal, Jayson Stark, Jon Heyman, Matt Gelb, Amy K. Nelson, Jerry Crasnick, and Danny Knobler contributed more information today.

Odds & Ends: Lowell, Barmes, Red Sox, Hanson

By | at

Links for Wednesday, as the Tigers get some infield depth from a division rival…

  • The Rangers haven't ruled out acquiring Mike Lowell, according to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com.
  • Agent Bean Stringfellow told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that the Blue Jays are not currently discussing an extension with Jose Bautista. It’s not at all surprising given how much else the Blue Jays have to sort out this week. Bautista said on the FAN 590 today that he would listen if the Blue Jays approached him with a multi-year deal after the season.
  • The Cardinals are not interested in Clint Barmes, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (via Twitter).
  • Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino told WEEI.com’s Alex Speier that the Red Sox will “look aggressively” for ways to improve at the trade deadline.
  • Tommy Hanson explained to Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he chose the Boras Corp. because of the support the agency offers.
  • Brett Myers is untouchable, a source tells Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). With respect to Justice and his source, it seems unfathomable that a 41-59 team wouldn't listen to offers on a player who can walk at the end of the season.
  • Casey Fien cleared waivers and the Tigers outrighted him to Triple A, according to the team (via Twitter). Detroit designated Fien for assignment last weekend.
  • Like Fien, Scott Moore cleared waivers and headed to Triple A, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. The O's designated Moore for assignment last week.
  • And another recent DFA, Justin Miller, was outrighted to Triple A Albuquerque, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times (via Twitter).
  • The Blue Jays have considered Kelly Johnson, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Aaron Hill recently told the Globe and Mail's Jeff Blair that he would play third if the Jays asked him to, so Johnson could theoretically play second in Toronto. Seems like a longshot to me.
  • Kyle Farnsworth is available to manager Ned Yost (and GMs around the league) after leaving yesterday's game with a hamstring cramp, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter).
  • Trevor Hoffman can veto deals to 25 MLB teams, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. The all-time saves leader and his $7.5MM salary would likely clear waivers, so interested teams will probably be able to pursue him in August.
  • One player told Morosi that he'd be "shocked" if the Brewers trade Prince Fielder this week.
  • Mike Axisa counts down the Yankees' top five trade chips at River Ave. Blues.
  • The Dodgers won't discuss prospect Dee Gordon with other teams, according to Jayson Stark of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

Oswalt Approves Phillies Deal; Option Won’t Be Exercised

By | at

1:53pm: The deal is done, tweets Rosenthal.  Piecing this together, it appears the Astros send Oswalt and $11MM to the Phillies for Happ, Gose, and Villar, with the Phils potentially adding $1MM to Oswalt's buyout but not exercising his option.

A few tweets from Crasnick: the Cardinals and Padres made late runs at Oswalt today.

1:44pm:  Rosenthal tweets that Oswalt's option is actually a mutual one.  With the trade, his buyout will increase from $1MM to $2MM if the Phillies pick up the option and he declines, and remain at $2MM "if he simply opts out on his own."  Rosenthal adds that the third player in the deal will be shortstop prospect Jonathan Villar.  Some sources spell it "Villan," including the Baseball America Handbook.    

1:34pm: Oswalt has accepted the deal, tweets Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer. 

12:51pm: Gose and Happ are definitely in the deal, tweets CSN Philly's Jim Salisbury.

12:12pm: Oswalt plans to OK the deal, but it's not official yet, reports Stark.  He adds that the Astros will be sending $11MM.  Rosenthal tweets that Oswalt's 2012 option will not be exercised; he'll be compensated some other way.  ESPN's Amy K. Nelson tweets that Oswalt will get $1MM added by the Phillies to the buyout of his '12 option.  She adds that the details are being worked out now regarding Oswalt retaining his no-trade clause. 

ESPN's Jerry Crasnick tweets of a rumor that speedy outfield prospect Anthony Gose may be in the deal.  AOL FanHouse's Ed Price tweets that he's hearing Gose and Worley could be in the swap.

10:43am: Rosenthal tweets that he hears Singleton is not in the deal.

10:17am: The identities of the other two players going to Houston remain unknown, but ESPN's Jayson Stark says the Astros have pushed hard for minor league first baseman Jonathan Singleton. 

9:04am: The Astros will receive three players for Oswalt, tweets Rosenthal, while also paying a "very significant" part of his salary.  Happ will be one of the three.  Astros owner Drayton McLane has been negotiating directly with Phillies president David Montgomery, reports CBS' Danny Knobler.

7:37am: SI's Jon Heyman hears the Astros and Phillies were discussing Happ, righty Vance Worley, and two younger pitchers (Twitter link).  Worley, a 22-year-old righty, spent most of 2010 at Double A, posting a 3.20 ERA, 6.6 K/9, and 2.9 BB/9.  Baseball America ranked him 18th among Phillies prospects heading into the season, predicting a future as a back-end starter or middle reliever.

1:08am: The Astros and Phillies have reached an agreement on a Roy Oswalt trade, reports Mark Berman of FOX 26 in Houston.  Berman says the Astros are now waiting for Oswalt's approval, having hammered out the players and money with the Phils.  Wednesday morning, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports had reported that the players were "pretty much agreed on."  Lefty J.A. Happ has been a rumored part of the deal for a while now.

Oswalt's contract has $5.46MM left from his $15MM salary this year, $16MM in 2011, and a 2012 option for $16MM with a $2MM buyout.  It remains to be seen how the Astros and Phillies settled the financials and whether the Phils will pick up Oswalt's option, though SI's Jon Heyman hears that the Astros are sending a lot of money to the Phillies (Twitter link).

Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top