The Phillies were on the verge of completing a deal Friday night that would send Houston's All-Star right fielder, Hunter Pence, to Philadelphia for four prospects.
Officials of two clubs who spoke with the Astros on Friday told ESPN.com the trade was expected to be finalized Friday night.
Although there had been talk earlier that the teams could expand the trade to include a third club, multiple sources said that by late Friday, only two-team scenarios were on the table.
The Astros were still insisting on a massive return for the 28-year-old Pence -- a package described by one executive who spoke with them as "two headline pieces and extra stuff."
The "headline pieces," in this case, would appear to be the Phillies top pitching prospect, Jarred Cosart, and their top hitting prospect, Jonathan Singleton. The Phillies made those two the centerpieces of their original offer for Pence early this week.
The Phillies' package does not include either outfielder Domonic Brown or rookie starter Vance Worley, sources said.
The Atlanta Braves also made a serious run at Pence, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. The Braves offered Houston four prospects -- two at the upper levels of the minors and two from lower-level clubs -- and were still exchanging names with Houston in the early evening Friday.
The Astros asked for Atlanta pitching prospect Mike Minor, a source said, but it's uncertain if the Braves were willing to include Minor in their trade package.
Jayson Stark is a senior baseball writer for ESPN.com.
Officials of two clubs who spoke with the Astros on Friday told ESPN.com the trade was expected to be finalized Friday night.
Although there had been talk earlier that the teams could expand the trade to include a third club, multiple sources said that by late Friday, only two-team scenarios were on the table.
The Astros were still insisting on a massive return for the 28-year-old Pence -- a package described by one executive who spoke with them as "two headline pieces and extra stuff."
The "headline pieces," in this case, would appear to be the Phillies top pitching prospect, Jarred Cosart, and their top hitting prospect, Jonathan Singleton. The Phillies made those two the centerpieces of their original offer for Pence early this week.
The Phillies' package does not include either outfielder Domonic Brown or rookie starter Vance Worley, sources said.
The Atlanta Braves also made a serious run at Pence, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. The Braves offered Houston four prospects -- two at the upper levels of the minors and two from lower-level clubs -- and were still exchanging names with Houston in the early evening Friday.
The Astros asked for Atlanta pitching prospect Mike Minor, a source said, but it's uncertain if the Braves were willing to include Minor in their trade package.
Jayson Stark is a senior baseball writer for ESPN.com.
@)
