A TRADE RUMOR: WERTH FOR OSWALT?

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SO WOULD YOU DO THIS?

I SAY YES AND HERE IS WHY ………………….

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Okay first of all the rumor:

1. Phillies send Jayson Werth to Tampa Bay

2. Tampa Bay sends a couple prospects to Houston

3. Roy Oswalt waves his no trade clause

4. Houston sends Oswalt to Phillies

This would be GREAT! And not because I want Werth to go. If I were Amaro I would have already signed Werth to a few more years. See my post “Pay Werth Now”.

But I am not Ruben Amaro. And it is abundantly clear that Werth was already 99% of the way out the door at seasons end when his contract ended.

1. Phillies would probably not give Werth the combo of the money and years he wants

That said what is Jayson Werth worth on the trade market with just the remainder of this season on his deal? That depends.

If you are the Rays and you think the future is now and that he could push you over the top then it is werth the roll of the dice to get him and send 2 prospects to Houston! And if you are Houston, what do you need a $16,000,000 a year pitcher when you suck as a team?

For the Phillies this works for a couple of reasons:

• Blanton sucks – actually he is a good pitcher who just doesn’t get it

• Moyer’s contract is up this year

• Kendrick is not working out

• Who knows what the Happ situation is

• Blanton sucks – that deserves 2 mentions

• Oswalt may not make the difference this season but if  you were to make the playoffs, WILD CARD?, then think of Halladay, Hamels, Oswalt!

• Carry that trio over to 2011 and 2012. Oswalt already has a $16,000,000 club option for 2012. By today’s standards that is reasonable for a guy who has an ERA around 3.00

• Plus you can erase the Werth money and probably Moyer money. It would be nice to erase the Blanton money instead if someone would take him. Moyer and Werth make a combined $15,500,000 this year! So that pretty much would cover the Oswalt contract for the next couple years!

Worries?:

• Oswalt has injury problems!

• Still need closer

• Ibanez needs to go and his $12,500,000 – I love you RAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUL but this is a what have you done for me lately world!

• Need to dump Baez off on someone too!

So having Halladay, Hamels, and Oswalt for the next 2 and 1/2 years to me is worth parting with Jayson Werth who is probably gone in a few months any how! So take the option for 2012 Ruben and get Oswalt up here!

Now if you were going definitely sign Werth, than I may think twice about this move. But remember I am not Ruben, so I have to voice my opinion based on what the Phillies are going to do or not do. They are not keeping Werth, so I have resigned myself to that reality.