Amaro_roseman_wade_matt
Clark, it's the gift that keeps on giving the whole year.

That it is, Edward. That it is, indeed.

We’ve joked a lot about how many sweet, hometown discounts Ed Wade has given his goddaughter’s father, Ruben Amaro, but perhaps we should take a closer look at what Wade has gotten in return for the three All-Stars he has traded to the Phillies. Let’s delve:

November 7, 2007: Wade trades Brad Lidge and Eric Bruntlett to the Phillies (Gillick) for Michael Bourn, Geoff Geary, and Mike Costanzo.

Phillies got: A 48-FOR-48 WORLD CHAMPION PERFORMANCE from Lidge, and Eric Brunlett scored the game-winning run in two World Series games. He also turned an unassisted triple play and was the owner of a sweet beard.

Astros got: Michael Bourn, who developed into a very nice player and an All-Star… though he was just traded to Atlanta for Jordan Schafer and minor leaguers. Schafer is still recovering from a broken finger, which he suffered earlier this year. He was batting .240 with Atlanta.

Geary was released and hasn’t pitched in the Majors since 2009.

Costanzo, my childhood friend who I once struck out in a Delco league playoff game (pats back), was part of a trade package to Baltimore. In return, the Astros got Miguel Tejeda, who signed with the Giants this off-season.

Fun fact: Costanzo said in his introductory press conference with the Phillies that he wanted to help them win a World Series. He did exactly that. It should also be known that I owned him in RBI Baseball.

He's currently in AAA.

July 29, 2010: Wade trades Roy Oswalt to the Phillies for J.A. Happ, Jonathan Villar, and Anthony Gose.

Phillies got: Roy Oswalt. Ace number three.

Astros got: Happ (6.01 ERA this year), Villar (batting .220 in AA), and Gose, who was flipped to Toronto for Brett Wallace. Wallace is currently batting .268 with four home runs and 26 RBI in Houston. He is, however, only 24 and considered to have a bright future.

January 10, 2011: Wade trades Albert Cartwright to Phillies for Sergio Escalona.

Phillies got: Cartwright is injured and hasn’t played in an official minor league game this year. He is trying to win tickets off the radio, though:

Screen Shot 2011-08-02 at 2.13.35 PM

Astros got: Escalona has a 2.53 ERA in 21 innings pitched this year for the Astros. Score one for Wade.

July 29th, 2011: Wade trades Hunter Pence for Jarred Cosart, Jonathan Singleton, Josh Zeid, and a player to be named later.

Phillies got: Pence. Let’s go eat.

Astros got: Two B+ level prospects, Zeid (an average prospect), and somebody else.

In summary, the trades, in the short term, have been awful. Ed Wade has turned Brad Lidge, Eric Bruntlett, Albert Cartwright, Roy Oswalt, and Hunter Pence into four very average players at the Major League level: J.A. Happ, Brett Wallace, Jordan Schafer, and Sergio Escalona.

In addition, he has also signed a number of ex-Phillies: Jason Michaels, Brett Myers, Chris Coste, Tomas Perez, etc. 

The Astros have 36 wins.

That being said, the guys acquired either from or as a result of trades with the Phillies are young and do have potential. Plus, the Astros got two premium prospects in Cosart and Singleton. In the long run, if the prospects pan out (big if), the moves may put the Astros in position to win… but that's still three or four years away.

Conversely, Lidge, Oswalt, and Pence all figure to play major roles as the Phillies try to win their second World Series in four years.

Thanks, Eddie.

H/T to Matt for the Photoshop