Astros send Oswalt to Phillies for trio

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA

There’s a new Roy in town — and he’s an ace, too.

Three-time All-Star Roy Oswalt gave his OK to a trade from Houston to Philadelphia on Thursday, becoming the latest star pitcher to join the hard-charging Phillies.

After getting Roy Halladay in the offseason, the two-time defending NL champions got Oswalt and a sizable amount of cash from the Astros for pitcher J.A. Happ and two speedy prospects, outfielder Anthony Gose and shortstop Jonathan Villar. Houston then traded Gose to Toronto.

Oswalt joins a rotation that includes Halladay, acquired from Toronto in the offseason, and Cole Hamels, the 2008 World Series MVP. Oswalt is scheduled to make his debut for the Phillies tonight, starting at Washington.

“We’re trying to do what we can to get back to the World Series and win it,” Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. “To have Roy Oswalt, Roy Halladay and additionally Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton and Kyle Kendrick, we stack ourselves up as one of the best rotations in baseball.”

This was the second straight year the Phillies made a major trade for a pitcher in the days leading up to the July 31 deadline. Last season, they got Cliff Lee and he boosted them to another NL pennant — Lee was then sent to Seattle in a separate deal on the same day the Phillies acquired Halladay.

“I’m excited,” Halladay said. “It says a lot that this team is dedicated to winning.”

The Phillies took a seven-game winning streak into Thursday night’s game against Arizona. Philadelphia began the day 31/2 games behind Atlanta in the NL East.

St. Louis also had been bargaining for Oswalt. He had a no-trade clause in his contract and could decide whether to accept any deal.

“He’s pretty excited about coming here,” Amaro said. “The fact that Roy came to Philadelphia with really no great demand, that says something about the guy.”

Oswalt, who spent his entire career with Houston, requested a trade in May.