The Houston Astros are dreadful this season. After a slow start, followed by a hot streak, the Astros have sputtered in recent weeks. This team went from two games out of first place to almost 13 games out in a matter of days.
The pitching has been horrible, and the offense has been streaky at best. This is not a team built to win now, or even in the future.
The Astros' owner, Drayton McClain, plays by a philosophy that his beloved team must win and compete now. McClain practices this philosophy by adding veteran names to his roster from free agency; a very effective technique, if you have a top-notch farm system.
However, the Astros have the worst farm system in the majors. There is no one on the Round Rock Express that is ready for everyday major-league duty or a spot in the rotation or bullpen. The Astros need a major shake-up.
The Astros own some very impressive talents on their team right now, talents that could garner a ton of interest around the trade deadline. There are three ways the Astros can approach the deadline.
The team can look to acquire a front-line starter and swap a valuable position player, they can trade some of their superstars for prospects and look at the next two years before a window closes, or they can have a “firesale”. Now, let us take a look at the Astros' most tradable commodities.
Roy Oswalt
The name that will surely anger fans, assuming he was mentioned to be on the block, is Roy Oswalt. Roy owns a no-trade clause, but would likely waive it should the right team be brought up.
The list of acceptable teams is small, likely only including the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Cardinals, Padres, Angels, and Braves. Roy really wants a shot at the postseason this late in his career, and all these teams, sans Padres, are ready to strike.
The Cardinals should be out of the question. The Astros do not want to face Roy more than once or twice a year. The Padres could bring a pretty penny, and Roy would be on the same team with good friend Jake Peavy. Realistically, Roy could fetch two high-level prospects as well as one medium to low-level prospect.
Roy has seen better days, and decline is in his future. He will never be the same Oswalt who won 20 games in consecutive seasons. Trading him for three prospects or more is a smart move.
Lance Berkman
The current face of the Houston Astros is Lance Berkman. He is a native Texan, has a local collegiate affiliation, and is a clubhouse leader. Berkman also has a full no-trade clause that he would have to waive to be dealt. Berkman loves being in Houston, but if the team approached him about waiving his clause, you could expect a sour attitude from the superstar. He is one of the best hitters in the NL and brings a lot of intangibles off the field.
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