Da Schwab wrote:The Astros are going to pay almost half of Oswalt's salary next year. Lee would've been more than the Phillies could handle if they had kept him around after this season and he would have wanted a ticket out of Philly after last season because he wanted more money.
They're paying 11 million of the final 23 he has left on his deal between this year and next year (ESPN Philly radio says this). That means they're paying 12 million for him, and Cliff Lee made 9 million this year. They said they couldn't afford Lee and knew they weren't going retain him so they wanted to get some prospects. If they're going to go out and get Oswalt (whose a inferior pitcher and makes more money) they should have just kept Lee.
They didn't want to give up Drabek last year for Halladay, but they gave him up in the off-season (along with Mike Taylor). They could have given up Taylor and Drabek last deadline for Halladay and given up the same package they did for Lee & had both of them for 2 post-season runs.
2 post-season runs of Lee & Halladay >>> 2 post-season runs with Oswalt and Halladay (without Werth when he leaves this off-season).
Again, I think it's a good deal overall for Philly, but it's just baffling decision making over the winter and last deadline.