Oswalt approves trade to Phillies

PHILADELPHIA --- There's a new Roy in town -- and he's an ace, too.

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Associated Press

Houston Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt throws in the first inning during a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh. A person with knowledge of the deal says Houston ace Roy Oswalt has agreed to waive his no-trade clause and accept a swap to the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

Three-time All-Star Roy Oswalt gave his OK to a trade from Houston to Philadelphia on Thursday, becoming the latest star pitcher to join the hard-charging Phillies.

After getting Roy Halladay in the off-season, the two-time defending National League champions got Oswalt and a sizable amount of cash from the Astros for pitcher J.A. Happ and two speedy prospects, outfielder Anthony Gose and shortstop Jonathan Villar. Houston then traded Gose to Toronto.

Oswalt joins a rotation that includes Halladay, acquired from Toronto in the off-season, and Cole Hamels, the 2008 World Series MVP.

Oswalt is scheduled to make his debut for the Phillies tonight, starting at Washington.

"We're trying to do what we can to get back to the World Series and win it," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "To have Roy Oswalt, Roy Halladay and additionally Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton and Kyle Kendrick, we stack ourselves up as one of the best rotations in baseball."

This was the second consecutive year the Phillies made a major trade for a pitcher in the days leading up to the July 31 deadline.

Last season, they got Cliff Lee and he helped boost them to another National League pennant -- Lee was then sent to Seattle in a separate deal on the same day the Phillies acquired Halladay.

"I'm excited," Halladay said. "It says a lot that this team is dedicated to winning."

Philadelphia ended the day 21/2 games behind Atlanta in the NL East.