Phillies To Acquire Oswalt?

According to ESPN columnist Jayson Stark, via Twitter:

According to sources close to the situation, a Jayson Werth trade is imminent and further, the Phillies have stepped up their efforts to acquire an arm with the news that Jamie Moyer has an elbow strain.

With Werth slumping badly lately, the Phillies are looking to dump him for pitching and to make room for phenom Domonic Brown, who is hitting .360 with 4 HR in his first 20 games in AAA. The Astros could be interested in dumping Oswalt’s salary and taking on Werth, who is likely to be a Type A free agent and net the ‘stros two first-round picks when he walks in the winter. Though, the Phils might also have to add in a young pitcher such as J.A. Happ (who was pulled in the third inning of a minor league start) or Andrew Carpenter.

More likely, though, the Phillies will be trading Werth to a team hungry for a bat (Rays?) in return for a player (Andy Sonnanstine?) or players who will then be moved for the arm or arms they need. In addition to Oswalt, the Phillies have reportedly been in discussions for Dan Haren, Jeremy Guthrie, and Ben Sheets.

Meanwhile, the Mets might be interested in Jake Westbrook.

Can you imagine a Phillies team with Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt heading their starting rotation? Yes, they are struggling all around right now but what a shot in the arm (pardon the pun) such an acquisition would be. Just as significant, the Phillies would start the 2011 season with the two best Roys in baseball.