How Money and Losing Affect the Oswalt Trade

Written by Mike Mariano | 22 July 2010

The news of the Phillies negotiating for Roy Oswalt was the news of the day around here yesterday.  Something involving Roy coming in and Jayson Werth going out seems to be the one consensus as to what would come of it.  Whether it involve two teams or three, that will be the focal point of it.  If only it was that simple.

Last night it was reported that Roy Oswalt, who has a full no-trade clause, will only accept a deal to an organization that guarantees his $16 million 2012 club-option will be picked up.  This presents a major issue for the (self imposed) cap-conscious Phillies.  With so much money already on the books then, another $16 million would put them well over where they'd like to be for that season after assembling a full roster.

That's the money side of this, but the losing side might be equally important.  Namely, how it will affect Roy and how it will affect the Phillies.  Sitting a cool 7 games outside of the divisional race and 4 out of the wild card, the Phillies aren't the World Series contending "lock" that they were in April.  Could this month long dry spell deter Roy from wanting to pack his bags for Philadelphia?

Contrarily, will this losing create a sense of urgency in Ruben Amaro where he (or the ownership) decides that the $16 million is steep but necessary because the team needs Oswalt to try and get back in this race?  If recent history is any indication, I don't think that ownership will go for such a manuver however it's not impossible.

This deal seems to be falling apart at the seems, however the way team executives play things close to the heart these days, you never do know what's really going on.