What the Roy Oswalt trade means for Houston....and the Big Puma

Houston traded away ace Roy Oswalt yesterday to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for J.A. Happ and some prospects, including first baseman Brett Wallace and Jonathan Villar. For the first time in 3 seasons, it would appear owner Drayton McLane is admitting that the 2005 World Series season remains a distant memory, and moving into a rebuilding stage is the only salvation for Houston and its fans.

Getting Happ demonstrates the elite ability General Manager Ed Wade possesses, if given the opportunity to demonstrate it. Happ was the Phillies best player last year when he finished the season as the runner up for NL Rookie of the Year. He's spent most of 2010 on the injured list, only recently coming back to pitch, but in 2009 you're talking about a kid who went 12-4 in 23 starts, and over 35 games had an ERA of 2.93. Pretty fine numbers for a guy just 2 years into his career, and you might be looking at the newest Astro ace in the coming seasons.

The intriguing part of the trade is the acquisition of Barrett Wallace, a highly thought of first base prospect from the Toronto Blue Jay who many think will be a power hitter for years to come (think Ryan Howard minus 15 HRs a year). Of course, this leaves Astros fans wondering about the fate of current first baseman Lance Berkman, a Houston and Texas native whose spent the majority of his life in the Houston area playing for the Astros and Rice Owls. But getting a young, talented first baseman in a trade means the wheeling and dealing may not be done, and Berkman could be the next to go.

Houston has the chance now, before tomorrow's deadline, to deal another Astro legend in exchange for even more prospects. There are teams looking to add a power hitter, and bringing a switch hitter like Berkman into the lineup upgrades most teams around the league. Also on the table for numerous teams should be left fielder Carlos Lee, himself a colossal waste of Houston's money who can still provide power to an AL lineup in the DH spot.

I'd love to see Lance stay in Texas and Houston and the Rangers work something out, though the farm system in Arlington may not have the pieces Houston craves. Wade and McLane should do what they can to get another quality starter, some good young relievers, and perhaps a left fielder with some power to take over for the aging and embarrassing Lee.

Move Lee and Berkman, and begin the process of building towards 2013 and beyond. I think acquiring Wallace helped nudge Houston that direction. I can only hope the trend continues.