Roy Oswalt going to Phillies, and Braves need to respond (UPDATED)
Roy Oswalt joined a Phillies' starting pitching rotation that includes Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels. (AP photo)
(UPDATED: 4:45 p.m.)
When rumors began to heat up the other day that the Philadelphia Phillies were pursuing Houston pitcher Roy Oswalt — the gem of baseball’s trade deadline — I mentioned that such a deal could put pressure on the Braves to make a move.
Well, it just happened
After reports surfaced late Wednesday that the Phillies and Astros had specifics of a trade in place, ESPN and Fox Sports now are both reporting that Oswalt has waived his no-trade clause and signed off on the deal. The Astros will get pitcher J.A. Happ and two prospects in return.
Oswalt will start for the Phillies in Washington Friday night.
What does this mean for the Braves? Simple. They need to do something.
The acquisition of Oswalt doesn’t guarantee Philly will overtake the Braves in the National League East. But it’s a significant and aggressive move by a three-time defending division champion, one that should madate a response by Braves’ management.
General manager Frank Wren said the other day he was uncertain if the team needed to make a move before Saturday’s non-waiver traded deadline, but can there be any doubt now?
Everything Wren has done of late has been about setting the Braves up for a pennant run in Bobby Cox’s final season as manager. Most notable: The recent trade of shortstop Yunel Escobar to Toronto for Alex Gonzalez — a deal more about this year than the future — and the demotion of center fielder Nate McLouth to the minors.
With Oswalt joining the Phillies, it would be risky, at best, for the Braves to settle for what they have. The team needs offensive help, preferably somebody who plays center field. They also may need a reliever, with Eric O’Flaherty on the disabled list, Jesse Chavez just plain awful and Kenshin Kawakami having apparently been lost in a black hole.
Is it panic time? Not at all. But worry time, maybe.
The Braves lost to Washington today. They’re 6-7 since the All-Star break and their lead over Philadelphia in the East is down to three games (pending the Phillies’ game tonight at Arizona). The Phillies are only 8-6 since the All-Star break, but they have won seven straight and scored 41 runs in the last six games. They’ve hung around despite being wrecked by injuries most of the season (second baseman Chase Utley and center fielder Shane Victorino currently are on the disabled list).
Now, Philadelphia has Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Oswalt at the top of its starting rotation.
If Wren doesn’t respond with a deal, he will be playing a dangerous game.
♦
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501 comments Add your comment
IlliniBrave
July 29th, 2010
4:35 pm
@Grinch: totally agree. You and I are on the same page. We are a mid-market team for the forseeable future, and Wren’s moves are all designed to build maximum bang for the buck. A team built around a roster that includes Heyward, Prado, McCann, Freeman, Salcedo, Hanson, Jurrjens, Medlen, Vizcaino, Teheran, Minor, Venters, and Kimbrel will be an exciting and very competitive team to watch. And as you imply, the wealth of pitching and increased free payroll will allow Wren to go out and get a couple of high-quality position players.
Jeff Schultz
July 29th, 2010
4:35 pm
Chipper’s Daddy — I hear ya. But I wrote a couple of weeks ago (shortly after Gonzo trade) that the Braves had the look of winners and I’m not backing off that at all. However, the landscape has changed since then. Phillies are rolling, race has narrowed and this trade helps them. Suggesting the Braves may need to get stronger doesn’t mean I all of a sudden think they stink because I don’t. Just saying that some help would, like, help.
JustaFan
July 29th, 2010
4:35 pm
Boys its looking bad for Braves. Can’t beat the Fish and now the Nationals. It will be down to 1 &1/2 games tonight.
Wren better shi! are get of the potie……….
Steve
July 29th, 2010
4:35 pm
Ooh that brain mccann pinch hitting is sooo scary
Big Whoop
July 29th, 2010
4:36 pm
Minor should be untouchable for anything less than a young star. A major-league ready lefty starter is still worth a lot in MLB. I’d rather Chipper, McCann and Glaus just play better. The Infante starting plan, shifting between first and third sounds pretty good.
Yunel #1 Fan
July 29th, 2010
4:36 pm
Willingham IS the ANSWER. And he is NOT Diaz. He has 60 BB. And he CAN hit RHPs.
Steve
July 29th, 2010
4:37 pm
Jeff the braves could be back at 2-3 over .500 in a week. 2 months doesn’t make a good strong team. It’s how you finish. And I don’t have a good feeling about this team at all. I never drank the kool aid like you and your cohorts did.
Steve
July 29th, 2010
4:37 pm
Meant 2 weeks
DawginLex
July 29th, 2010
4:37 pm
No move is the best move. What do you do to improve this team? Adam Dunn? He is Troy glaus on steroids.
The chemistry on this team is very good. If there are no injuries, this team can hang in there.
Don’t mess it up by making some desperation trade in response to the Oswalt deal.
Chippers Daddy
July 29th, 2010
4:38 pm
Agreed JS. Help would indeed help.
Steve
July 29th, 2010
4:38 pm
way to run hard you fat lazy bastard
ArkyTech
July 29th, 2010
4:39 pm
Buck, our 3 hole is hitting .250 with no power. Our SS was hitting .230 with 0 home runs. Melky has, what, 3 home runs? McLouth is not hitting his weight (and he’s a little guy). Glaus is hitting in the .240s. Mac has been up and down, but is still just hitting .271 with 13 HR. We may not have a single player hit 20 home runs. Omar has played part time, is a solid player (that Wren traded for, by the way), but is hardly a run producer.
If anything, Wren should be credited with putting together a team that could win despite players not producing as expected, and even contend with a Phillies’ team with a $60M payroll advantage.
Johnny DangerDawg
July 29th, 2010
4:39 pm
There are no easy answers for the Braves. The best available outfielders look about as attractive as Nate McLouth did a year ago. That deal ultimately turned out to be a waste of optimism. I would hate to waste good prospects on a bust.
Todd
July 29th, 2010
4:39 pm
2.5 games after tonight. Phillies up by .5 by Sunday. Simply amazing.
Todd
July 29th, 2010
4:40 pm
At least dunn just hit a homer. Something troy hasn’t done in weeks.
Angelo
July 29th, 2010
4:41 pm
Now Oswalt is “old”. He wasn’t “old” when the Yankees, Cardinals and Dodgers all wanted him, was he? The Phillies offense is back on track and they’ve just added the best pitcher on the trading block (Lee wasn’t on the trading block. His being traded was a surprise to everyone).
Todd
July 29th, 2010
4:41 pm
At least they will be out of the race by the end of next month and we can focus on football. Better now than then.
BuckheadBrave
July 29th, 2010
4:41 pm
They just look tired. Glaus especially. Why wouldn’t you try Freeman to put a little spark in September as a part time player? Maybe a little postseason rookie magic like Andruw Jones in 1996.
JustaFan
July 29th, 2010
4:41 pm
Yunell, Read the report on Willingham on ESPN INSIDER. He can hit but no arm and poor d. Is that what U want.
don
July 29th, 2010
4:41 pm
Yes, the Braves need to do something. However, that “something” would be to not drop two out of three to Washington. Apparently, that is just exactly what they are going to do.
They don’t need to rush in and pull another Lenny Barker-J.D. Drew-Mark Teixeira disaster. But, we all know that management excels at one thing- disasterous moves made while in a state of panic.
Stand by for another disaster.
FactsAreFacts
July 29th, 2010
4:42 pm
I’m a baseball fan and a Phillies fan. The Braves have been a pleasant surprise this year, for sure. But let’s keep it real: the Phillies have had only two thirds of their starting lineup for most of the first half of the season, including one of the best players in the game – Utley, and a former MVP – Rollins. A number of starters have missed significant time. Yet, we are still breathing down your necks. You will lose again today. We just got Oswalt. Oh, and we’ve already proven ourselves to be CHAMPIONS! So, please, show some respect. The Braves may take it in the end, but the odds certainly are against you. I say the Phillies take the division by 5 or more games this year. Just keepin’ it real up here…
BuckheadBrave
July 29th, 2010
4:43 pm
JustaFan,
I think that is what we want for the rest of this year when we have guys like Melky and Blanco who can come in in the 7th to play D and hold a lead.
Oswalt approves deal, Astros trade ace to Phillies – SI.com « Acrylic Sports
July 29th, 2010
4:44 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
JRW7
July 29th, 2010
4:44 pm
Braves lose again!!! Is this the beginning of the end?
JustaFan
July 29th, 2010
4:47 pm
For the last months its been someone to play D in CF.. I do agree we need a big bat somewhere. Thought Alex would help with power but he forgot to bring it with him from Jays.
Swat
July 29th, 2010
4:47 pm
Booby cox looks like death sitting in that dugout. No wonder they suck.
ReddJonn68
July 29th, 2010
4:47 pm
Is it just me or do the Braves look a little like the Hawks now, decent regular season then choke in the postseason. Oh yeah don’t forget blind GMs who stand back & watch other GMs in their own divisions make blockbuster Vegas type moves. We were exposed this series & Strasburg didn’t even take the mound, can you say wildcard, maybe.
BuckheadBrave
July 29th, 2010
4:48 pm
we should have gone after Podsednik if he was available. I feel like the Braves can be short sighted i looking for players who fit their lineup instead of looking at what they can do to change their lienup. Podesednik would have let the Braves move Prado back to the 2 hole and move some struggling players down.
1.Podsednik-LF
2.Prado-2b
3.Chipper-3b
4.McCann-C
5.Heyward-RF
6.Gonzalez-SS
7.Glaus-1B
8.Melky-CF.
That is a better lineup than we have today. Also I know it may be a little risky defensively but i seem to remember Diaz playing CF some last year. Do you think they will end up trying that to maybe get his and Hinske’s bat in the lineup at the same time?
TruthSeeker
July 29th, 2010
4:49 pm
FactsAreFacts, if you want respect you’d be wise to give respect. The Braves won the season series against the Phillies last year, are leading it again this year, and are still in first place by the way, yet you don’t show a bit respect for them.
Most Braves fans do respect the Phillies as a team, but your arrogant attitude is why hardly anyone respects Philly fans.
IlliniBrave
July 29th, 2010
4:49 pm
@FactsAreFacts: I think the majority of the posters here ARE giving the Phillies some serious respect. Many/most of us have commented on how you are a stronger team and are starting to play better. And now you have made a great trade for Oswalt. Most of us are actually recognizing the “reality” as you say. But what about you? Do you have any respect for the Braves? I have to say that, not matter where I go, no matter which stadium or which opponent, the Phillies fans are always the most obnoxious and disrespectful. I’ve seen the Phils play the Cubs at Wrigley, the Braves at the Ted, the Cards at Busch, and the Expos up in Montreal – and Phillies fans are just downright obnoxious and annoying. Why is that?
Chippers Daddy
July 29th, 2010
4:49 pm
@yunel #1 fan- You are right, Diaz has a BETTER AVG. than willingham against RH pitching,
diaz-.271 Career AVG.
Willingham- .265 Career AVG.
Hope!
July 29th, 2010
4:50 pm
NO WILDCARD IF THIS KEEPS UP. METS AND FLA BACK IN RACE.
Bob Horner
July 29th, 2010
4:50 pm
The Braces had a lot of “lucky” wins in the first half..I’m worried that, that luck may be turning the other way around…
Chippers Daddy
July 29th, 2010
4:51 pm
100% with buckhead. Wish PODS was in a braves uni.
Big Whoop
July 29th, 2010
4:52 pm
Because they’re stinkers, IlliniBrave.
Sonny Clusters
July 29th, 2010
4:52 pm
We was noticing the Braves lost again. When we was playing ball Coach would always try to put in somebody that was hitting. Bobby Cox might try that when he makes out the lineup.
BigGrant
July 29th, 2010
4:53 pm
Time to get the big bat…break out the checkbook….the fans are doing their part…now let’s go Braves do something!
FactsAreFacts
July 29th, 2010
4:54 pm
“Dispassionate objectivity is itself a passion, for the REAL and for the TRUTH.” The Philadelphia Phillies will win the Division people.
JustaFan
July 29th, 2010
4:55 pm
No big deal……..two of a kind…great off bench! Looking for more Daddy!
Podsednik was trade yesterday for 2 minor leaguers..Braves were late again.
BuckheadBrave
July 29th, 2010
4:55 pm
Mets come to town August 2nd. The Ted will have 18,000 max. We don’t sit in traffic to watch this crap.
amicusterrae
July 29th, 2010
4:55 pm
If we make a deal, the cost has just gone up. Smart seller knows we are desperate.
GovClintonTyree
July 29th, 2010
4:56 pm
Without being a knee-jerk reaction kind of guy, I think the Braves do need to make a move. Not so much to keep up with the Phillies, just their outfield offense really isn’t very strong.
They’ve needed a bat (more, really) in the outfield for several years now. Heyward is one; still short a bat. C Jones is now a singles hitter, Glaus is streaky, McCann seems to be back, but it’s not enough.
Too many spare parts. Infante, Conrad, Diaz, Cabrera, Hinske…Need a masher. Willingham, Hart, C Young would all do.
ReddJonn68
July 29th, 2010
4:56 pm
@ BuckheadBrave with Bobby filling out those lineup cards shakeup is not in the Braves vocabulary. Just remember we’re hitting the ball real hard they just happen to be right at the other team’s players !!!!
912 Dawg
July 29th, 2010
4:56 pm
FactsAreFacts, Go eat a cheesesteak
Ralph
July 29th, 2010
4:57 pm
Well it was fun while it lasted.
Robert
July 29th, 2010
4:58 pm
Trading Medlen at this point in the season would not be a good move. Not only has he provided a spark to the rotation but his value increases during the playoffs. His ability to be a long man or to attack one hitter gives him great value. Why would we want Minor, who has yet to throw a pitch in the majors, take on this roll? Also add in the fact he’s left handed, and we have three pretty good lefties in the pen already. A winter move, possible. Not now. I’m in agreement Chavez and KK need to go. Send both to Gwinnett, call up Marek, and get a bat for the bench. We don’t need 13 pitchers. The struggles of Glaus appear to be linked to his health. Without his bat the team is struggling. Hinske could give him a breather. One name out there that wouldn’t cost a ton would be Hank Blaylock. Chipper can’t stay healthy so he could fill in at both corners. I still feel Blanco and Infante could handle center (sorry I’m not a Melky fan). We’ve got the bats to handle a Phillie charge as long as the guys stay semi healthy.
And would someone please explain to Hanson that throwing a first pitch fastball isn’t a sin? The man throws 95 mph and throws his second or third best pitch to start a hitter off 75% of the time. He didn’t have this issue last year. Stop trying to out think the hitter, do what you do best, and see if they can hit it. Medlen does it and look at the results. Geeze.
912 Dawg
July 29th, 2010
4:58 pm
Bobby is a terrible motivator
booquinn
July 29th, 2010
4:58 pm
Could we be so lucky for someone to take Lowe in a trade? Dude gives up a 2 run single that turned the game to a .182 hitting back up catcher, threw him meat with the pitcher on deck. This guy is going through the motions waiting for that Friday pay check, unfortunately it it a rather large paycheck that I am affraid no team would dare take on unless we dulled the pain for them. Step it up Lowe, quit wining when the ump misses a call and start earning that money.
alberto
July 29th, 2010
4:59 pm
facts are facts works @680
JustaFan
July 29th, 2010
4:59 pm
think i’ll do that 912………….good day.