7/21 14:41: Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated says that the Phillies are talking to the Rays about Werth for prospects, then sending those prospects to the Houston Astros for Oswalt.

7/21 11:33: Jayson Stark of ESPN says that the Astros had scout Doug Brocail in Indianapolis to watch J.A. Happ on Tuesday.

7/20 22:43: According to two Major League sources close to Ed Price of FanHouse, the Phillies and Astros are working on a trade that would send Roy Oswalt to Philadelphia pending approval from Oswalt.

One source described the talks as “heavy.”

Houston “may be close to putting the ball in [Oswalt's] court,” the other source said, although he didn’t think the trade was down to the finishing touches.

Oswalt has a no-trade clause in his contract and he is owed the remainder of his $15 million for this season, $16 million for next season and there’s a $2 million buyout for his 2012 season.

7/20 21:45: Olney and Stark report (via Twitter) that the Rays are discussing possible trades scenarios for Werth. The Phils are working “very, very aggressively” to move Werth, who has just under $3mm remaining on his 2010 salary. The move would free up cash which would allow them to chase a starting pitcher who has a larger salary.

7/20 20:26: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports adds this info via twitter from GM Ruben Amaro Jr.- “not close” to trade, talking to “many clubs on many fronts.” The Diamonbacks, Astros and A’s also say they are not close to a deal according to Rosenthal.

7/20 20:12: Jayson Stark of ESPN says that the Philadelphia Phillies are working on a major deal to acquire a starting pitcher in an attempt to save a season. The Phillies need a starter for Saturday.

GM Ruben Amaro Jr. strong hinted to reporters that the Phillies could acquire a pitcher from outside the organization to make the Saturday start.

The team is also discussing a companion trade that would move outfielder Jayson Werth to free up money, open a spot for Domonic Brown and replenish their prospect supply.

Stark says the team has spent a lot of time in recent days exploring a trade for Astros ace Roy Oswalt.

Among the clubs that could be interested in Werth include the Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres.

7/20 19:40: According to Jayson Stark of ESPN.com, he tweets, “Indications Phillies are working on major deal for starting pitcher & would move Jayson Werth in a companion trade.” Stark later adds, “Follow-up on Phillies tweet: Phillies have talked about lots of starters. But hearing they’ve spent a lot of time exploring an Oswalt deal.”

Buster Olney of ESPN The Magazine adds, “Jayson Stark and I hearing a whole lot about the Phillies working hard on a deal for a frontline pitcher. Don’t know for sure, but [Roy] Oswalt fits in a lot of ways. They could make the dollars work by moving Jayson Werth’s contract — and they’d have Oswalt for 2011.” Olney adds, “Some of the pitchers the Phillies weren’t talking about, as of early Tuesday evening: Ben Sheets, any of the Rays’ pitchers and Dan Haren.”