Well shit.

There were indications earlier today that the seemingly completed trade between the Phillies and Astros that would have brought Wilton Lopez to Philadelphia has hit a snag: Ken Rosenthal tweeted that other teams were in the mix for Lopez and Jim Salisbury speculated the holdup could have been because Lopez didn’t pass a physical, which he underwent in Philadelphia yesterday. 

Now Todd Zolecki has weighed in: [Phillies.com]

Sources said today a trade that would have sent right-hander Wilton Lopez to Philadelphia for a pair of Minor League prospects had hit a roadblock and is unlikely to happen. Lopez, 29, had been in Philadelphia on Wednesday for a physical.

A deal had been agreed upon, pending Lopez passing his physical, but it appears both teams are going their separate ways. 

 

Lopez spent time last season on the DL with elbow problems, so the working theory is that the Phils saw something they didn’t like during his physical (though Lopez finished the season strong).


This hurts. Ruben Amaro had seemingly finally pulled of a nice, somewhat under-the-radar roster rounding out move. A setup man isn’t flashy, but he's effective and important (hey, Chad Qualls, you horse-toothed jackass). Now it looks like it’s not happening, and that disappoints me.

In other news: The Phillies reportedly only offered B.J. Upton five years, $55 million. Nice restraint shown not to go to 75, which the Braves did.