PHILADELPHIA -- All-Star closer Billy Wagner was traded Monday from the Houston Astros to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Philadelphia sent Houston right-hander Brandon Duckworth, and minor league right-handers Taylor Buchholz and Ezequiel Astacio.
Wagner, a three-time All-Star, goes from one of baseball's best bullpens to among its worst.
FANTASY FOCUS
The Billy Wagner trade is also good news for fantasy owners, who will get another closer to pick in 2004 drafts. However, don't assume that setup man Octavio Dotel will automatically assume the closer's role. Dotel was Houston's closer in 2000 when Wagner was injured, and he blew nearly a third of his chances and had an ERA over 4 as a reliever. Brad Lidge, meanwhile, has also been groomed to close games. Until hitting a second-half wall this season, Lidge (above) was nearly as dominant as Dotel - and Wagner. Figure on this being a key position battle, not automatically Dotel's job to lose. As for Wagner, his value doesn't change; he goes from one potential playoff team to another, though Philly must get him setup men - like he had in Houston.
--Eric Karabell
For more Fantasy Dirt on the big trade, click here.
"He's one of the most dominant closers in baseball," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "He's right up there with Eric Gagne and John Smoltz in that when he comes into the game, it's over."
Wagner was 1-4 with a 1.78 ERA last season and had 44 saves in 47 chances, making a career-high 78 appearances. Philadelphia's bullpen converted just 33 saves in 51 opportunities as Jose Mesa and Mike Williams both faltered.
With eight games left, Philadelphia was a half-game ahead of Florida, which went on to win the wild card and the World Series.
"When we met with our pro scouts and staff in Clearwater three weeks ago, we prioritized our needs and decided that the closer should be at the top of the list," Phillies general manager Ed Wade said. "We then went through the list of available closers and ranked them. Billy Wagner was at the top of our list. Billy represents a huge improvement for the 2004 Phillies."
Wagner, 32, is due to make $8 million next season, the third in a $27 million, three-year contract he agreed to in January 2002. The deal contains a $9 million team option for 2005 with a $3 million buyout.
He had criticized Astros owner Drayton McLane for not making a move to get another quality starting pitcher for the 2003 season and expected more of the same for next season.
"It's going to be a tape job," Wagner said after the season finale. "It's not like we're going out there and getting any marquee pitchers."
McLane has said the Astros were losing money this season.
"This is somewhat of a sad experience," he said. "He's one of our own and has developed into one of the premier players in baseball. But you move forward, and you have to constantly renew the team, and this is a step forward. We hate very much to make this decision, but it certainly helps us in giving us flexibility."
Octavio Dotel is likely to assume the closer's job, with Brad Lidge in line to replace Dotel as the setup man. Dotel was acquired in another salary-motivated deal that sent pitcher Mike Hampton to the Mets after the 1999 season.
Dotel was 6-4 with a 2.48 ERA and four saves last season, and has 28 career saves.
"He's got the makeup to be the closer," Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker said. "He's got the physical talent to be the closer and that's something we'll have to decide in spring training."
Duckworth, 27, was 4-7 with a 4.94 ERA in 18 starts and six relief appearances. Buchholz, 22, went 9-11 with a 3.55 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) for Double-A Reading of the Eastern League.
Astacio, who turns 24 Tuesday, was 15-5 with a 3.29 ERA at Class-A Clearwater of the Florida State League.
Philadelphia sent Houston right-hander Brandon Duckworth, and minor league right-handers Taylor Buchholz and Ezequiel Astacio.
Wagner, a three-time All-Star, goes from one of baseball's best bullpens to among its worst.
FANTASY FOCUS
The Billy Wagner trade is also good news for fantasy owners, who will get another closer to pick in 2004 drafts. However, don't assume that setup man Octavio Dotel will automatically assume the closer's role. Dotel was Houston's closer in 2000 when Wagner was injured, and he blew nearly a third of his chances and had an ERA over 4 as a reliever. Brad Lidge, meanwhile, has also been groomed to close games. Until hitting a second-half wall this season, Lidge (above) was nearly as dominant as Dotel - and Wagner. Figure on this being a key position battle, not automatically Dotel's job to lose. As for Wagner, his value doesn't change; he goes from one potential playoff team to another, though Philly must get him setup men - like he had in Houston.
--Eric Karabell
For more Fantasy Dirt on the big trade, click here.
"He's one of the most dominant closers in baseball," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "He's right up there with Eric Gagne and John Smoltz in that when he comes into the game, it's over."
Wagner was 1-4 with a 1.78 ERA last season and had 44 saves in 47 chances, making a career-high 78 appearances. Philadelphia's bullpen converted just 33 saves in 51 opportunities as Jose Mesa and Mike Williams both faltered.
With eight games left, Philadelphia was a half-game ahead of Florida, which went on to win the wild card and the World Series.
"When we met with our pro scouts and staff in Clearwater three weeks ago, we prioritized our needs and decided that the closer should be at the top of the list," Phillies general manager Ed Wade said. "We then went through the list of available closers and ranked them. Billy Wagner was at the top of our list. Billy represents a huge improvement for the 2004 Phillies."
Wagner, 32, is due to make $8 million next season, the third in a $27 million, three-year contract he agreed to in January 2002. The deal contains a $9 million team option for 2005 with a $3 million buyout.
He had criticized Astros owner Drayton McLane for not making a move to get another quality starting pitcher for the 2003 season and expected more of the same for next season.
"It's going to be a tape job," Wagner said after the season finale. "It's not like we're going out there and getting any marquee pitchers."
McLane has said the Astros were losing money this season.
"This is somewhat of a sad experience," he said. "He's one of our own and has developed into one of the premier players in baseball. But you move forward, and you have to constantly renew the team, and this is a step forward. We hate very much to make this decision, but it certainly helps us in giving us flexibility."
Octavio Dotel is likely to assume the closer's job, with Brad Lidge in line to replace Dotel as the setup man. Dotel was acquired in another salary-motivated deal that sent pitcher Mike Hampton to the Mets after the 1999 season.
Dotel was 6-4 with a 2.48 ERA and four saves last season, and has 28 career saves.
"He's got the makeup to be the closer," Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker said. "He's got the physical talent to be the closer and that's something we'll have to decide in spring training."
Duckworth, 27, was 4-7 with a 4.94 ERA in 18 starts and six relief appearances. Buchholz, 22, went 9-11 with a 3.55 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) for Double-A Reading of the Eastern League.
Astacio, who turns 24 Tuesday, was 15-5 with a 3.29 ERA at Class-A Clearwater of the Florida State League.
