Astros and Phillies reach agreement; Oswalt's approval still needed

[1996Bear]

So two low level prospects AND pay 11 million dollars?? Wow how is Wade a GM?

Agreed. This deal sucks for the Stros.

[WS6bear]

Spin it how you want Cory, but that is a terrible deal IMO. Especially for a guy with years left on his deal.

[MGMBear]

He brews a hell of a cup of coffee

[xiledinok]

So two low level prospects AND pay 11 million dollars?? Wow how is Wade a GM?

Looks like a cost cutting deal. That's terrible paying $11 million to Philly to take an ace of a staff. Must have been desperate to deal him.

Notice what's happenend to Philly since Wade left.

[BCC97]

I agree that this is a pretty underwhelming trade on the Astros' part. They trade Oswalt for a pitcher coming off elbow trouble and two 19 year old speedsters...neither of which are batting higher than .275 in Class A. Does Ed have any other players he'd like to give to the Phillies...which team does he actually work for? Perhaps he'd like to trade Berkman for Joe Blanton (5.85 era) the Phanatic?

From the Chronicle: "The Phillies were the only team the Astros presented Oswalt with a trade scenario, Garber [Oswalt's agent] said. Garber said the San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals expressed interest in Oswalt." Oh for the love of all that is holy.

[ValpoCory]

Astros reportedly are trading Anthony Gose to Toronto now.

"And one more thing. By the end of the day we're all going to think this was a good day for Houston. Please let it play out. Thank you."

"Gose to Tor for Wallace, a slugging 1b."

"Wallace goes to Round Rock."

"On Wallace: "He's a hitting machine, no question about that. We've had our eye on him since '08 draft.""

"My "good day" comment was in reference to Wallace acquisition. At first glance that is a terrific pickup."

-Footer

[ValpoCory]

"For those of you who have asked, I like Happ and therefore like the trade. Bottom line is Roy had to go, but the Astros could not just...
# ...give him away. Considering Roy's demands which reached unreasonable levels, it's a surprise this got done. Glad it did. "

--Footer

[ValpoCory]

Glad to see Houston get Brett Wallace. Berkman's replacement.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/0...blue-jays.html

"Meanwhile, Astros GM Ed Wade says Wallace is a "hitting machine," according to Alyson Footer of the Astros "

[CizzLark]

Astros reportedly are trading Anthony Gose to Toronto now.

Nevermind. It would probably help to read the 2nd page of the thread.

[ValpoCory]

Brett Wallace was considered the 27th best prospect in baseball by BA going into this season.

[ValpoCory]

From BP on Brett Wallace:

The Good: Wallace is an offensive powerhouse with a quick, compact swing that should lead to .300 batting averages in the big leagues and the strength to hit 40 doubles annually with 20-25 home runs. He has great baseball instincts, to go with soft hands and a solid arm.
The Bad: Wallace's bat is his only tool, as he's not athletic and slow. While he held his own at third base on balls hit to him, his range was extremely limited, and he will be moved to first base in 2010. While he had a reputation as an on-base machine in college, he's not even drawn one walk per ten ABs as a pro, with just 62 unintentional walks 734 career at-bats.

[ValpoCory]

Brett Wallace probably means no Lance Berkman in Houston in 2011.

The Astros did well today. Footer, as usual, is right.

[ValpoCory]

Alyson Footer's afterglow.

http://footer.mlblogs.com/archives/2...t_a_lot_m.html

[evergreen]

As an Astros fan, I'm both upset and optomistic. We're in a state of turnover, as far as I can see. For as much as Roy's done for the 'stros, I can't help but root for him to win a ring. Hell, he deserves 3 for Lidge's 1. And it looks like Lance might be gone as well, according to rumors out there.

However, we aren't going anywhere this season, and our main guys are getting up there in years, so I don't have any qualms with acquiring players/prospects to build us back up.

I have trust in Drayton to deliver....and there's awlays Morey out there to swing a deal.

[ValpoCory]

As an Astros fan, I'm both upset and optomistic. We're in a state of turnover, as far as I can see. For as much as Roy's done for the 'stros, I can't help but root for him to win a ring. Hell, he deserves 3 for Lidge's 1. And it looks like Lance might be gone as well, according to rumors out there.

However, we aren't going anywhere this season, and our main guys are getting up there in years, so I don't have any qualms with acquiring players/prospects to build us back up.

I have trust in Drayton to deliver....and there's awlays Morey out there to swing a deal.

I wish I had your optimism on Drayton. The less he is involved in baseball operations, the better, in my opinion.

[evergreen]

I wish I had your optimism on Drayton. The less he is involved in baseball operations, the better, in my opinion.

might be the Baylor fan in me, but I think he's a good owner; I do think the bulk of baseball operations should fall on the GM, and I'm not yet sold on Wade...

[htown_bear]

So two low level prospects AND pay 11 million dollars?? Wow how is Wade a GM?

I'm guessing since he used to be with Philly, they wrote a helluva letter of recommendation to the Stros so they could have a spy here.

[htown_bear]

So let's see:

Happ--finesse lefty, 27 yrs old, tops out in the low 90's, above-average breaking ball, possible No. 3 starter down the line

Wallace--drops some serious bombs, and nothing much after that.

Villar--Speed, athleticism, fielding, may be able to hit for average, no power. He's essentially the same as Jiovanni Mier, our 2009 1st rounder.

2010 Stats

Happ (MLB)-- 3 starts, 1-0, 1.76 ERA, 9/12 K/BB (spent some time on the DL)

Wallace (AAA)--.301, 18 HR's, 61 RBI's

Villar (low-A)-- .272, 2 HR's, 36 RBI's, 38 SB's

Not bad but it's not great.

[ValpoCory]

Happ--finesse lefty, 27 yrs old, tops out in the low 90's, above-average breaking ball, possible No. 3 starter down the line

"down the line" = "Friday night".

[Ghostrider]

We were robbed...