Done Deal!

Jayson Stark of ESPN.com is reporting that Houston Astros ace Roy Oswalt has agreed to a deal that will send him to the Philadelphia Phillies for J.A. Happ and two minor leaguers, Jonathon Villar and Anthony Gose. In other words, the Phillies keep their top two hitting and top two pitching prospects.

That would be the equivalent of trading Bobby Parnell or Jon Niese, plus Lucas Duda and Scott Moviel. Basically, Oswalt straight up for Niese or Parnell. <shakeshead>

Give it up for the Phillies GM, who once again swoops in and lands the biggest fish in the sea for his team and fanbase.

The Phillies mean business and they will stop at nothing to deliver another winner to the city of Philadelphia.

With their offense finally clicking and posting huge numbers again, Oswalt should just about seal the deal for the defending National League Champs, and barring inury or a Mets-like choke, they will once again be printing post season tickets for their fans come September.

The Astros will pay $11 million of the approximately $23 million Oswalt has guaranteed through 2011, and most likely the Phillies will exercise the 2012 option as part of the agreement.

That will give the Phillies a 1-2 punch of Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt through the next three seasons; two of the premier pitchers in baseball.

Cole Hamels goes from number two pitcher, to probably the best number three pitcher in the league if not the game.

If great pitching really does beat great hitting, and if pitching is 90% of the game, then the Phillies have just gotten a ton better.

Let’s ask Johan who the best pitcher in the NL East is again, because a lot has changed since last March.

Original Post 9:19 AM

According to KRIV in Houston, the Philadelphia Phillies have made a deal with the Houston Astros for Roy Oswalt.

The deal is now pending Oswalt’s approval as he would need to waive his no-trade clause.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com says Oswalt could require the Phillies to guarantee his club option for 2012 in exchange for waiving his no-trade clause. He does not want to go to Philadelphia, according to one source with knowledge of his thinking. But Oswalt told reporters earlier this week, “location doesn’t matter.”

Jon Heyman of SI.com via Twitter writes that the Astros and Phillies were discussing J.A. Happ, RHP Vance Worley, and two younger pitchers.

Obviously, if Oswalt approves the trade, this will bolster the Phillies for a strong finish and another post season run.

As for the Mets, they were never in it. They never spoke to the Astros about Oswalt and never had any intention of taking on his salary. In fact, several reports now say that they are not in the mix for Ted Lilly or Brett Myers.

More to come…