According to reports out of Houston, Roy Oswalt’s demand for the Phillies to guarantee his $16 million 2012 option could cool the team’s interest in the pitcher.
Online reports Wednesday pointed to negotiations between the Phillies and Astros for a trade involving Oswalt and possibly one other team stalling because of a demand by Oswalt that any suitor pick up his option for 2012, at a cost of $16 million.
They story points out that any such demand would make it hard to deal Oswalt.
Still, industry analysts appear of the consensus that requiring the hefty option be picked up could effectively kill any chance for Oswalt to return to the playoffs in a uniform other than the Astros this season.