Amaro Confirms Oswalt Joins Phillies

PHILADELPHIA - Ruben Amaro has confirmed that Houston Astros have traded Roy Oswalt to the Philadelphia Phillies.

J.A. Happ, Anthony Gose and Jonathan Villar will head to Houston. The Phillies will also get cash from the Astros.

Amaro said the deal came together in the past week when he began talking with Houston GM Ed Wade, and negotiations became serious in the last three to four days.

"He's one of the highest-quality right handed picthers on the market," Amaro said.

Oswalt will fly to Washington on Thursday night and start for the Phillies against the Nationals on Friday night.

Amaro said he spoke with Oswalt and Oswalt said he was excited to come to Philadelphia.

The Phillies GM said he did get some cash from Houston in the deal, and the Phillies still have the ability to make more trades before Saturday afternoon.

Oswalt's $16-million option for 2010 will not be exercised, but he will be compensated in some way for waiving the no-trade clause.

Both Ken Rosenthal and ESPN's Jayson Stark say the Astros will pick up somewhere in the neighborhood of $11 million to cover part of Oswalt's pay for this season and next to get the deal done.

The 32-year-old right-hander has a $2 million buyout in his contract for that 2012 option, but there are reports the Phillies may pay more to exercise it.

Our Fox affiliate in Houston was the first to report overnight that a deal was in place and awaited Oswalt's OK .

A finalized trade would give the Phillies a starting rotation led by Roy Halladay, Oswalt and Cole Hamels, followed by Joe Blanton and Kyle Kendrick.