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According to Mark Berman of Fox 26 in Houston , the Astros and Phillies have agreed in principle to a trade that would send Roy Oswalt to Philadelphia. 

Berman’s sources report that all players and moneys that would be exchanged have been agreed on, but both teams await Oswalt to waive his no-trade clause.

Oswalt is scheduled to take the mound for the Astros this Friday. 

Trade details and fantasy baseball spin to follow.

Follow us on Twitter for more updates @TheFantasyFix.

Here are some more articles that will not self destruct in ten seconds…

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It looks like, for better or for worse, Roy Oswalt’s days appear to be over with the only club he’s called home, if he wants it that way.

It’s been reported by FOX 26 in Houston that a deal has been agreed upon between the Phillies and Astros that will see Roy Oswalt head to the “City of Brotherly Love.” The only thing standing in the way of this deal is Oswalt’s no-trade clause. It all depends whether he chooses to veto the trade.

“Sources have told the TV station the teams have agreed on the amount of money Houston would take back in the deal and the teams have reached an accord on which players the Phillies would send the Astros.”

So with all the fine details in place, the ball is now in Oswalt’s court. Have a chance to pitch in a rotation that features Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, J.A. Happ, and Jamie Moyer, or stay in the only place he’s called home. 

Oswalt’s remaining contract sees him make $5 million for the remainder of the season, while making $16 million the following season (2011), and in 2012, there’s a club option for $16 million and a $2 million buy-out.

Oswalt, 32, is 6-12 with a 3.42 ERA this season with the Astros. Oswalt’s record isn’t indicative of how well he’s performing this year, though. Due to a lack of run support, Oswalt has seen his win total dwindle.

With 143 career wins, Oswalt remains one win shy of tying legendary Astros pitcher Phil Niekro for all-time wins in franchise history.

If Oswalt decides on Philadelphia, he will be heading to a team only 3.5 games out of the playoffs, and now with another strong anchor on their already impressive pitching staff. I, for one, would like to see Oswalt get the attention he deserves, and a move to Philadelphia might be good for his career.

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A week ago today, about this time of night, rumors started flying that the Astros and Phillies were in negotiations that would send right-hander Roy Oswalt to the City of Brotherly Love.

The talks ended up fizzling as Oswalt demanded that his $16 million option for the 2012 season be picked up by whoever acquires him.

That turned the Phillies off and the talks ended up going cold.

A day or so later, it was the St. Louis Cardinals that ended up being the front-runner and it looked like Oswalt would be headed to another National League Central team within days. Even Oswalt seemed to embrace becoming a Cardinal, even telling the Astros that he wouldn’t require them to pick up his option for 2012 as he had demanded the Phillies do just days earlier.

Here we are, a week later, and the Cardinals are now out of the race leaving the Phillies as the front-runner once again.

According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark , the Phillies and Astros have once again intensified talks over Oswalt. There are a few different opinions from a few different national writers and those opinions seem to be that the two sides will be at odds over who is going to pick up the majority of what’s left on his contract.

Not only that, but the Phillies have apparently been looking into other options which include Ted Lilly, Jake Westbrook, and Fausto Carmona.

It seems to me that these rumors keep popping up but don’t seem to have a leg to stand on. The Phillies have to know that Oswalt doesn’t want to play for them and doesn’t want to wear their jersey before the deadline comes. The decision they have to make at this point is predicated on whether or not they are willing to give up at least three prospects on top of adding on payroll for next season and beyond.

At this point, we’ll have to wait and see if the talks go from “intense” to “hot and heavy.” Until that time, I’m going to look at these talks in a skeptical light.

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For Houston Astros fans, and management alike, the only question on their minds is this: Will Roy Oswalt still be with the team come the trade deadline on July 31?

And if you ask Oswalt, he’ll tell you the blunt truth: he has no idea.

“You think about it, for sure, not really knowing where you’re going to be in the next few days,” Oswalt told MLB.com beat writer Brian McTaggart last week. “You have to wait until that decision is made and they approach you with something. It would be different for sure, to put on a different uniform. I won’t know that feeling until it happens. You never know. I may be here until Oct. 4.”

The latest reports indicate a strong possibility of Oswalt landing with the Philadelphia Phillies, but only time will tell.

And time is ticking away.

Another possibility for Oswalt’s destination, according to numerous sources, is the Texas Rangers. If Texas lands the Wizard, watch out American League—the Rangers are World Series bound.

But until a deal is set in stone, it’s all hearsay.

“The money part, I can work out with anybody,” Oswalt said. “We can work on doing different things to restructure whatever they want to do. The biggest thing is making it work for both of us.”

That means Houston’s franchise as well.

“I’m going to find a way to get it done if it works for both of us,” Oswalt said. “I’m not going to go somewhere that’s bad for me. I don’t want to do anything that puts the Astros in a bad situation.”

From rumors involving the Phillies, to the Rangers, to the St. Louis Cardinals (who now appear to be out of contention for Houston’s ace), Oswalt is just waiting the whole thing out—along with management and fans.

“I think my biggest focus is still pitching and this will work itself out,” Oswalt said. “I don’t think about this when I’m away from the field. I’m trying to focus on winning the [next] game.”

Meanwhile, Astros owner Drayton McLane told the media on Wednesday, July 28, that no deal is certain regarding Oswalt at this time.

“There have been lots of discussions,” McLane said. “There have been lots of ideas exchanged between teams, but nothing’s imminent.”

And until the Oswalt deal is signed and delivered, it’s all a matter of guessing.

On the other hand, the Astros first baseman and longtime slugger Lance Berkman has no intention of leaving.

At least that’s the plan.

“This is my home and I like it here,” Berkman said. “We’ve struggled, but we’ve had a lot of good years, and this organization has done a lot of good things for me, and I don’t want to jump ship when things turn south.

“I’d like to help us win here, but obviously I’m open to any suggestions. If a team calls and wants to rent my services for a couple of months, I’d certainly listen.”

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at denton.ramsey@gmail.com

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The MLB trade deadline is almost exactly three days away, and so far the only acquisition the Dodgers have made is the re-acquisition of veteran infielder Juan Castro on Tuesday. Castro will be making his third tour with the Dodgers, and many analysts see Castro’s addition in many different ways.

Castro may be trade bait, or he may be insurance should the Dodgers move other veterans such as Jamey Carroll, Ronnie Belliard, and/or Garret Anderson.

Even though the Dodgers have been quiet so far, it may be the calm before the Ned Colletti storm. As we have seen in recent years, the Dodgers’ general manager has pulled off headline-leading moves, and there are still some rotation arms to be had.

Cliff Lee and Dan Haren are already off the market, having made their transitions back to the American League.

These slides discuss the whispers going on around the league that are focused on the Dodgers and their potential trade moves, given the remaining talent to be had.

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You never know how any trade rumor will play out until the deal is official.

We can sit at our computer screens and read trade rumors ’til our eyes turn to goop and often times we’re still no more informed than my grandma.

Just look at last night’s Dan Haren trade—did it even occur to anyone that the Angels were serious suitors for the D-Backs’ ace?

But even if we don’t really know what’s going on behind the scenes, it sure is fun to speculate.

In this slideshow are 10 of the most discussed players who could be moved before the trade deadline on Saturday, with arguments for why each player will and won’t be traded, followed by my “Deal or no deal?” prediction.

This could be one of the most active deadlines in recent memory. Whatever happens, it will sure be fun to watch.

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Rumors have been swirling around the potential availability of Houston Astros 32-year old ace Roy Oswalt . He has been the lone bright spot on a team that entered Saturday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds with a 39-56 record. Since the season is considered lost, it was of little surprise to find that they are indeed trying to unload their franchise player of nine-plus years in an attempt to acquire solid prospects in return and rebuild.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and St. Louis Cardinals have all expressed interest in acquiring the 6-foot, 143 game-winner who has a solid 3.22 career ERA. The Reds have not, and for good reason. They don’t need him. Their pitching staff is already terrific, featuring a young rotation that is anchored by 24-year old Johnny Cueto .

Cincinnati’s offense tagged Oswalt for six runs in the first three innings, and the stocky, powerful Dominican right-hander made sure the early advantage would hold by continuing his stellar 2010 campaign.

He began his career in 2008. His statistics weren’t eye-opening to start, as he lost 14 times and carried a 4.81 ERA, but he showed many glimpses of what kind of pitcher he could be in the future. He was un-hittable at times, impressing the Reds fan-base and frustrating the opposition’s with a lively fastball and a filthy array of offspeed pitches.

He made significant strides the following season, polishing his pitches and taking forty points off his ERA. This year, he has solidified himself as the team’s best pitcher, going 9-2 with a sub-3.30 ERA. He is one of the main reasons Cincinnati hasn’t put any of their eggs in Oswalt’s basket. He’s been pitching even better than the trade market’s hot commodity.

He certainly continued to against the Astros. The five-run cushion was more than enough against Houston’s underachieving bats. He threw a substantial amount of pitches, but the results were desirable. His speed discrepancy and unpredictability kept hitters off-balance. He breezed through the bottom halves of the first three innings, striking out four, then methodically baffled Houston over the next five innings with his particularly effective fastball-slider combination.

He predominately used those two pitches, as was especially the case in the sixth inning. They were all he threw, and the frame featured a strikeout, a lazy fly-ball, and a tapper back to the mound. When he was in a jam in the eighth, his final inning, he thwarted a two-on, no-out attempted rally by pumping in 94 mile-per-hour fastballs then pulling the string with 83 mile-per-hour sliders. The Astros knew one or the other was coming, they just didn’t know how to handle either.

Their offense has struggled this season, but with the names they have in their lineup they certainly aren’t chopped liver. Speedy Michael Bourn was kept off the basepaths and power hitters Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman , who are both very surprisingly batting in the .230′s, continued their woes. In all, Cueto tossed eight shutout innings , allowing just four hits and a walk while striking out six. He threw 122 pitches but was hitting the mid-90′s on the gun in his final inning. And he did this while battling the flu.

With the 7-0 victory , the Reds moved back into sole possession of first place in the National League Central. If he continues to pitch like he did against perennially a top-ten pitcher in the league, the team will have a great chance of holding that lead or at least remaining within striking distance through the heat of summer.

This may have been Oswalt’s final start with the only major league team he has played for, but, with a dominant Cueto, the dependability of fellow young flamethrowers Edinson Volquez , Mike Leake , and Travis Wood , as well as the steadiness of veterans Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang , it is clear where he won’t end up.

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With only a week left until the July 31 MLB trade deadline, two All-Star aces have emerged as the biggest prizes to be had: Dan Haren and Roy Oswalt.

But which pitcher is better?

Is it the the hard-throwing Astro, or the deceptive Diamondback?

Most casual fans might instantly say Oswalt due to the recent struggles of Haren in 2010; however, just last season, the Astros right-hander finished the year with an ERA well above 4.00.

Here is the breakdown.

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Billy Bob Thornton. Bob Knight. Nelly. Bill Clinton.

Recently another big name has been added to the above list. Apparently, Roy Oswalt is a Cardinals fan.

The Astros’ ace has stated on numerous occasions that he’d favor a trade to the St. Louis Cardinals, and because Oswalt has a full no-trade clause, he holds all the cards.

So now it’s up to St. Louis to make a move. With a farm system that has been depleted by several trades over the past few years, the Cardinals cannot afford to make a mistake here.

Cardinals fans won’t soon forget how Oswalt dominated them in Game Six of the 2005 NLCS, eliminating St. Louis from the playoffs. Come October, no team would want to face a Cardinals rotation anchored by three aces in Oswalt, Chris Carpenter, and Adam Wainwright, all perennial Cy Young candidates. The road the the National League pennant would run through St. Louis. So who should and shouldn’t the Cardinals move to get the Astros’ ace?

On Their Way Out: Players the Cardinals Shouldn’t Hesitate To Offer

Brendan Ryan: It’s no secret that Brendan Ryan has struggled. Trading him could be a great move for the Cardinals. He’s been batting below the Mendoza line for most of the season, and his usually stellar defense has been less than great. So, if the Astros see potential in him, let them figure it out. Ryan is already 28, so moving him would be an added bonus to acquiring Oswalt.

Fernando Salas: In the first few assignments of his career, Salas has been very good. The Cardinals could relay this into a possible trade, although he wouldn’t be the centerpiece of a trade. Tony LaRussa has brought slowly worked him into higher and higher pressure, but he has continued to be effective, giving up just one earned run on a home run over 8.2 innings pitched. The Cardinals already have two young fireballers in their bullpen, so Salas is expandable.

Robert Stock, Brian Anderson, or Matt Pagnozzi: I list these three here together because they all fall into basically the same category. Three catchers, who find their path to the majors blocked by Cardinals mainstay Yadier Molina. They’re all considered top prospects in the Cardinals organization, but there’s not spot for them now, so they’re better used as trade chips.

Daryl Jones: A year ago, I didn’t want to see Daryl Jones included in a trade for a big name player. This year, things have changed. In 2008, when Jones batted .316, stole 24 bases, and hit 13 home runs, he looked like a five-tool player who could see starting time in the Cardinals outfield in the coming years. Since then, he has struggled against AAA pitching, and his batting average has dropped the past two seasons. He did bat .209 at Rookie ball in 2005, so he could just be adjusting. The Astros would jump at the chance to get him, and he wouldn’t be to big of a piece for the Cardinals to give up.

Blake Hawksworth: Hawksworth has progressed well this season, and no longer has prospect status. He’s filled in well for the Cardinals as a fifth starter this year, but has an ERA of nearly 5.00. If Oswalt joins the fold, Hawksworth would have to be moved to an already crowded bullpen. It would be better for the Cardinals to simply include him in a trade. He was the Cardinals top prospect in 2004, so the Astros may still see improvement left in him.

Adron Chambers: Adron Chambers is not the future of Cardinals Nation. However, he could be another team’s future. His speed makes him valuable, although his defense is suspect. He’s played most of his games in center field, where he has a .964 fielding percentage. He’s only 23, so he has time to improve, but would likely be the third player in a three-player deal.

Deryk Hooker: If the Astros are looking for pitching help, as rumored, Hooker could be included in a deal. He currently leads all Cardinals prospects with 94 strikeouts, and put up a 2.83 ERA with a .220 average against for Quad Cities. This has been a breakout year for Hooker, who just turned 21 this June.

Daniel Descalso: Descalso is an interesting case. He appears to be a slightly better hitting Brendan Ryan, expect that Descalso plays second base. His numbers in the minors have been good. With Triple-A Memphis, he’s posted a solid .357 on-base percentage, and has driven in 52 runs, putting him on pace for a career high. If the Cardinals don’t move him, the 23-year old is their future at second base.

Packing Their Bags: One of These Players Could Be Moved, But Not More

Allen Craig: As the best hitting prospect the Cardinals have, Craig is a prime candidate to be moved in a deal for Oswalt. However, Craig’s primary position is first base, and he’s not going to play there any time soon. It’s possible that he gets time in the outfield, but right now he’s got a big league bat, but not enough time to show it off. He could have that opportunity with Houston, who is rumored to be moving first baseman Lance Berkman. Craig could come back to bite the Cardinals, but, if it means acquiring Oswalt, it’s worth it.

Lance Lynn: He could be the centerpiece in a move for Oswalt. The Astros are said to be looking for pitching, and there may be no better option than Lynn, who was named St. Louis’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2009. He currently has 90 strikeouts for Triple-A Memphis to lead the team.

Jon Jay: In two stints with the Cardinals, Jay has exceeded all expectations, with a slash line of .378/.441/.607, and he has gained more and more playing time as the season progressed. However, he’ll have to come back to earth eventually, and the Cardinals could be wise to sell high here. I would miss the enthusiasm Jay brings to the team, and would hate to see him come up big for the Astros against St. Louis, but I think the Cardinals would be willing to move him, if it means the pennant.

Eduardo Sanchez: Eduardo Sanchez is listed as the Cardinals sixth best prospect by Baseball America, and for good reason. Out of the minor league bullpen, Sanchez posted a .920 WHIP in 2009, among the best in the organization. He has faltered this year in split time between Springfield and Memphis, but if the Astros want him, the Cardinals could move him with little thought.

Mitchell Boggs: As a major league ready arm, Boggs may fit the bill for Houston. He can develop into either a fourth or fifth starter, or even a closer. With a fastball in the high-90’s, and a devastating slider, Boggs has put hitters away out of the St. Louis pen, posting a 1.168 WHIP while striking out 6.6 batters per nine innings. At the age of 26, he could develop into a strong closer in the Houston bullpen.

Deal Breakers: Players Who Aren’t Going Anywhere

David Freese, Colby Rasmus, and Jaime Garcia: These three are the future of Cardinals Nation. Rasmus has been called, along with Andrew McCutchen, the future of center field in the National League. Garcia, who made the club out of spring training, has looked like a Rookie of the Year favorite, posting a 9-4 record with a 2.21 ERA. He  looks like a future front of the line starter for St. Louis. Freese was of to a hot start before injury derailed him. It’s very likely that he’ll be moved in the foreseeable future, because the Cardinals don’t have a suitable replacement for him at third.

Shelby Miller: He’s the reason a trade hasn’t gotten done yet. It appears the Astros want Miller, last year’s first round draft pick, but the Cardinals are unwilling to part with him, and for good reason. Miller is only 19, but has the top rated fastball in the organization. Baseball America lists him as the Cardinals’ top prospect, and he looks like he will replace Chris Carpenter within the next four years. Even if it prevent the deal from getting done, you do not trade Miller.

So can the Cardinals get Oswalt? If the Astros are willing to look past Shelby Miller, I think a deal can get done by the July 31 deadline. There may yet be another wrench thrown into the equation. If the Cardinals manage to surprise everyone by signing twelfth-round pick Austin Wilson, a top 15-pick talent that the Cardinals have been recruiting vigorously, trading Jay, Craig, or Jones would become a no-brainer.

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After a couple of days filled with reports and rumors of possible trades surrounding Astros ace pitcher Roy Oswalt, things seem to be at a standstill, at least from the St. Louis Cardinals’ perspective.

A report on NBCSports.com on July 21 deemed the Cardinals as “front-runners” to land the former All-Star and Cy Young Award candidate. The Philadelphia Phillies are also a threat to land Oswalt, and even the Minnesota Twins have expressed interest.

But since then, no real discussions have begun to hatch between the Cardinals’ front office and Houston regarding Oswalt. In fact, it appeared on Friday that the Cardinals may have taken a step back in the Oswalt sweepstakes.

Oswalt made it clear that if he were traded to anywhere but St. Louis, he would want his $16 million option in 2012 to be picked up. He said he would waive the option being picked up for an opportunity to pitch for the reigning National League Central champions.

That, plus the fact that Oswalt named St. Louis as his first choice for a destination, was what gave the Cardinals the upper hand.

But Friday, reports out of Houston were that general manager Ed Wade and owner Drayton McLane would be reluctant to trade Oswalt to the division-rival Cardinals and would prefer a deal elsewhere, perhaps Philadelphia, which is looking to add a pitcher after losing Jamie Moyer to an injury, or even the Los Angeles Dodgers, who put their name in the mix on Friday.

The Astros want “two top prospects, a third minor-league player and a young player who is ‘major league ready’” if they trade Oswalt. Cardinals GM John Mozeliak declined to comment on the trade possibilities, other than saying the team is exploring a “spectrum” of possibilities.

Wade isn’t the only one who’s reluctant to pull the trigger on a deal that would send Oswalt to the Cardinals—and effectively form what would have to be the best rotation in the National League.

Cardinals chairman Bill Dewitt, Jr. said Thursday a deal for any premium player is a “long shot.”

“You want to have the (payroll) flexibility to add an impact (player) if it’s possible,” Dewitt told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch . “We are very reluctant to give up high-end talent (prospects). The marketplace has changed. I think there are few deals where you can be sure you’re getting value back.”

You would have to figure that at least one of the high-end prospects that Dewitt is referring to is Cardinals 2009 first-round draft choice Shelby Miller, a 6’3″, 195-pound righty, who can reach 98 mph on the radar.

But according to Goold, Miller, a Texas native, is ineligible to be traded until he’s been under contract for an entire year, which would be in August; therefore, if a deal were to take place with him involved, it would have to be a “player to be named later” deal.

The Cardinals may not have all the pieces to form a desirable deal for Houston after they traded two of their top prospects, third baseman Brett Wallace and pitcher Clayton Mortensen, for Matt Holliday last season.

Triple-A prospect Lance Lynn is certainly a potential prospect to be traded. Lynn is just 23 years old and is 7-8 for Triple-A Memphis this season. He is an innings-eater and strikes out a fair amount of batters. Also, with the solid play of Jon Jay and Allen Craig, it wouldn’t be crazy to think their names would be mentioned in trade talks as well.

The Cardinals had been rumored to be interested in former Cardinal Dan Haren, but it seems their focus has shifted solely to Oswalt at this point. The Phillies and New York Yankees are also in the bidding for Haren, so that could play a role in where Oswalt ends up if the Phillies become more serious about landing the younger Haren.

At this point, just a week away from the July 31 trade deadline, it’s hard to say whether a deal will get done for the Cardinals involving Oswalt. If a deal does in fact go through, it’ll most likely be extremely close to, if not on, July 31.

If the Cardinals can’t land Oswalt, one would have to assume that Mozeliak would pursue a different starter, perhaps Jake Westbrook of the Cleveland Indians, whose name has been linked to the Cardinals.

With injuries to starters Kyle Lohse and Brad Penny, coupled with the poor performance of Jeff Suppan, Mozeliak has made it clear that he’d like to add a pitcher before the deadline, regardless of if they’re an ace or not.

But as far as Oswalt is concerned, each team involved knows what it wants out of the deal and will do all it can to make sure it gets just that. It’s simply a waiting game to see who wants Oswalt more and who’s more willing to pull the trigger on what will arguably be the biggest trade of this year’s deadline.

This article was originally published at  RedbirdReport.com

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