Sporting News staff reports
Steve Phillips is still thinking up trades seven years after being fired as the Mets’ general manager.
On Monday, he told New York radio station WFAN that if he were Astros GM Ed Wade, he’d be asking for Nationals pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg in a trade for right-hander Roy Oswalt. Washington reportedly is interested in acquiring Oswalt to bolster its rotation.
Monday night: Strasburg has worst Triple-A start: Two runs in five innings
Per The Washington Post’s Dan Steinberg, Phillips added that Rizzo wouldn’t deal Strasburg, but that didn’t stop the former ESPN analyst from explaining why such a swap would make sense:
"Listen, (Strasburg) was a good college pitcher, he’s a good minor league pitcher so far," Phillips tells host Mike Francesa. "But if I can get one of the top, what, top five starting pitchers in the game today for Strasburg? Because I really, truly, I hope that (Strasburg) could be that guy. I have to tell you, I don’t know that he could be that guy. And with his delivery, I could see the potential of a Mark Prior sort of breakdown."
That said, Phillips values Oswalt highly enough that he advocates asking for the game’s top prospect in a trade.
"If I’m the Astros, I’m asking for Strasburg. And I understand … they won’t do it. But that’s the caliber of player I want for Roy Oswalt," Phillips said.
Steinberg, meanwhile, indirectly points out that Strasburg can’t be traded just yet. Major league rules prohibit clubs from trading draft picks until 12 months after they signed. Strasburg, the first pick in last year’s draft, signed with the Nationals last August. Strasburg could conceivably be moved after the anniversary, as a player to be named.
Per Steinberg, here’s the audio.
Sporting News staff reports
Steve Phillips is still thinking up trades seven years after being fired as the Mets’ general manager.
On Monday, he told New York radio station WFAN that if he were Astros GM Ed Wade, he’d be asking for Nationals pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg in a trade for right-hander Roy Oswalt. Washington reportedly is interested in acquiring Oswalt to bolster its rotation.
Monday night: Strasburg has worst Triple-A start: Two runs in five innings
Per The Washington Post’s Dan Steinberg, Phillips added that Rizzo wouldn’t deal Strasburg, but that didn’t stop the former ESPN analyst from explaining why such a swap would make sense:
"Listen, (Strasburg) was a good college pitcher, he’s a good minor league pitcher so far," Phillips tells host Mike Francesa. "But if I can get one of the top, what, top five starting pitchers in the game today for Strasburg? Because I really, truly, I hope that (Strasburg) could be that guy. I have to tell you, I don’t know that he could be that guy. And with his delivery, I could see the potential of a Mark Prior sort of breakdown."
That said, Phillips values Oswalt highly enough that he advocates asking for the game’s top prospect in a trade.
"If I’m the Astros, I’m asking for Strasburg. And I understand … they won’t do it. But that’s the caliber of player I want for Roy Oswalt," Phillips said.
Steinberg, meanwhile, indirectly points out that Strasburg can’t be traded just yet. Major league rules prohibit clubs from trading draft picks until 12 months after they signed. Strasburg, the first pick in last year’s draft, signed with the Nationals last August. Strasburg could conceivably be moved after the anniversary, as a player to be named.
Per Steinberg, here’s the audio.