Roy Oswalt ok's trade to Phillies

[Steve Zebrowski]

Roy Oswalt has officially accepted his proposed trade to the Philadelphia Phillies, a baseball source familiar with the discussions said Thursday.

A source said after considering his options and speaking with friends familiar with the Phillies' situation, the Houston Astros' staff ace waived his no-trade clause in order to be dealt to Philadelphia.

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 did not demand that his 2012 mutual option for $16 million be picked up by the Phillies, a baseball source told ESPN.com's Amy K. Nelson. Instead, if either he or the Phillies chose not to pick it up, his $1 million buyout will increase to $2 million.

If Oswalt or the Phillies decline to exercise the option, then the pitcher will make $18 million next season. But both Oswalt and the Phillies must agree on the option for 2012 for him to stay with the team that season, the source told Nelson.

In return for Oswalt, the Astros would get back left-handed starter J.A. Happ and two prospects, according to sources.

OswaltSince breaking into the big leagues in 2001, Roy Oswalt has 143 victories -- 28 more than any other NL pitcher. And his 1,593 strikeouts are the most for any NL pitcher with 100 starts since 2001.
Although the Phillies prospects have not been publicly identified, sources said the Astros will receive outfielder Anthony Gose as part of the deal. Gose is currently at Class A Clearwater in the Florida State League, where he was batting .263 with a team-high 110 hits.

Sources said the Astros have pressed hard for first baseman Jonathan Singleton, considered the team's best minor league hitting prospect.

Singleton is currently at Class A Lakewood in the South Atlantic League, where he was hitting .312 with 18 doubles and 12 home runs as of Thursday.

The agreement on trade terms was first reported by KRIV-TV in Houston.

The Astros were off to a National League-worst 14-27 start when Oswalt asked for a trade May 22. As of Thursday, he was 6-12 with a 3.42 ERA. He was scheduled to start Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Coincidentally, Happ was scheduled to start Friday for the Phillies against Washington.

For his career, Oswalt is 143-82 with a 3.24 ERA.