HOUSTON, TX--The Houston Astros have acquired
left-handed pitcher J.A. Happ and minor leaguers Anthony Gose (OF) and Jonathan
Villar (SS) from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for right-handed pitcher
Roy Oswalt and cash, General Manager Ed Wade announced today.
The 32-year-old Oswalt, who is 6-12 with a 3.42 ERA (49ER/129IP) in 20
starts this season, had spent his entire career in the Astros organization
after being selected in the 23rd round of the June 1996 Draft. In 303 career
appearances, he is 143-82 with a 3.24 ERA. Oswalt is second in Houston
franchise history in victories and ranks second in strikeouts and third in
innings pitched and starts.
Happ is scheduled to start for the Astros on Friday night vs.
Milwaukee. In 2009, Happ, who is 1-0 this season with a 1.76 ERA (3ER/15.1IP)
in three starts, was named the National League Rookie of the Year by The
Sporting Newsand won the Players Choice Award for Outstanding N.L. Rookie
after posting a 12-4 record in 35 appearances (24 starts) with a 2.93 ERA
(54ER/166IP) and three complete games. He finished second in the voting for the
Baseball Writers Association’s N.L. Rookie of the Year award. In 47 career
Major League appearances (23 starts), Happ is 14-5 with a 3.11 ERA (75ER/217IP).
In 2010, Happ was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two starts before being placed
on the 15-day Disabled List with a strained left forearm. He was later optioned
to Triple A Lehigh Valley, where he made five appearances before returning to
the Phillies rotation on Sunday, July 25th, hurling 5.0 innings in a 4-3 win
vs. the Colorado Rockies. Happ was originally selected by the Phillies in the
third round of the June 2004 Draft.
Gose, 19, was originally selected by Philadelphia in the second round
of the June 2008 Draft. He hit .263 in 103 games at Class A Clearwater this
season with 17 doubles, 11 triples, four home runs and 20 RBI. Gose currently
leads the Florida State League in games, at-bats, runs, (67) and triples and is
tied for second in steals.
Villar, 19,
hit .272 (101x371) in 100 games at Class A Lakewood this season with 18
doubles, four triples, two home runs and 38 stolen bases. He ranks third in the
SAL in steals and is tied for 10th in runs scored with 61. Villar earned
Phillies Minor League Player of the Week honors for April 12-18. Villar, who
was born in La Vega, Dominican Republic, was signed by the Phillies as a
non-drafted free agent on May 20, 2008. He has tallied 82 stolen bases in 204
career minor league games, most of which have been as a shortstop.
