Late last night, the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies agreed on a deal that will send Roy Oswalt to Philly in a three-for-one swap. Phillies southpaw J.A. Happ is reported to be part of the deal, with Houston also receiving a pair of minor league players.
According to ESPN's Jayson Stark, the trade is not yet official, but both sides have agreed and Roy Oswalt plans to waive his no-trade clause to make the deal happen. This comes with the stipulation that the Phillies will buy out Oswalt's 2010 option instead of picking it up.
Just 3.5 games behind the suddenly sputtering Atlanta Braves, this trade—along with the call up of prospect Domonic Brown in the wake of Shane Victorino hitting the DL—gives the Phillies a very formidable lineup. In any key series down the stretch or even a short series in the playoffs, Philadelphia can send out a dominant pitching triumvirate headed by Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and now Roy Oswalt.
Despite his 3.42 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 8.37 K/9, Oswalt has struggled to a 6-12 record due to the meager run support given to him by a mostly anemic Houston lineup. This trade should vastly improve Oswalt's fantasy value, and could make him a dependable source of wins for the first time in a few years.