The faithful Phillies fans in Philadelphia (try saying that five times fast) are still holding their breath, waiting to see if ace Roy Oswalt will relinquish his demand that he be guaranteed his $16 million option in 2012. But with Osawlt now holding the entire city of Philadelphia at gunpoint, the brazen Phillies are balking at his request. The Phills were already interested in finding another pitcher before the possibility of landing Oswalt came up, and now that the seed of having Halladay and Oswalt as a one-two punch has been planted in the minds of Philadelphia fans, the whole city is waiting for the trade to be made.
Oswalt, 32, has about $7 million left on his $15 million salary for this year, plus a guaranteed $16 million next season and either a $2 million buyout or that $16 million option for 2012. But while the Phillies have expressed interest in paying the $25 million that Oswalt is owed through next year, they have shown no inclination to pick up the option year. It is also unclear has to what players would be exchanged in the potential trade with Houston, but pitcher J.A. Happ’s name has been thrown around.
With Oswalt’s name still up in the air, the Phillies are still reportedly pursuing Oakland‘s Ben Sheets and Arizona‘s Dan Haren. But one has to wonder if another arm will get the Phillies back to the World Series. Obviously, the fans want another big-name pitcher, but that won’t automatically equal a trip to the post-season, as the Phills continue to chase the Mets and Braves in the NL East.
photo credit: Rich Anderson
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