Houston Astros

A week ago today, about this time of night, rumors started flying that the Astros and Phillies were in negotiations that would send right-hander Roy Oswalt to the City of Brotherly Love.

The talks ended up fizzling as Oswalt demanded that his $16 million option for the 2012 season be picked up by whoever acquires him.

That turned the Phillies off and the talks ended up going cold.

For Houston Astros fans, and management alike, the only question on their minds is this: Will Roy Oswalt still be with the team come the trade deadline on July 31?

And if you ask Oswalt, he’ll tell you the blunt truth: he has no idea.

The Major League Baseball trading deadline is a mere days away and there are plenty of rumors to keep the hot stove, well, hot. 

The biggest name still on the market is right-hander Roy Oswalt. The news on Oswalt has changed hour-by-hour and there still is not a guarantee that the Houston Astros ace will wear a new uniform come this Sunday.

Nevertheless, there are still teams scouting Oswalt and burning up the trade chatter wire with their apparent interest and pursuit.

Here is a look at the teams who have been linked to Oswalt at some point and whether it is likely the right-han

Houston Astros general manager Ed Wade may feel like he’s the only one frustrated surrounding the Delino DeShields situation and the fact the team’s No. 8 pick has yet to sign a contract.

But he's far from being alone, and fans have every reason to be worried as well—especially if history repeats itself.

A .250 batting average, 291 home runs, and 964 runs batted in. Not exactly numbers you would associate with a Hall of Fame outfielder.

The reality is, analysis that only covers the superficial level, such as this, is lazy and has cost many players their rightful spot in baseball history.

Former Houston Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell has been named the new hitting coach for the team.

It was announced late Sunday morning that Bagwell would replace Sean Berry, who was fired earlier in the day.

Berry was a member of the original "Killer B's" along with Bagwell, Craig Biggio, and Derek Bell.

Berry played for the Kansas City Royals (1990-1991), Montreal Expos (1992-1995), Houston Astros (1996-1998), Milwaukee Brewers (19990-2000), and the Boston Red Sox (2000).

Berry has been on the Astros' staff for five seasons.

When talking about under-the-radar players in Major League Baseball this season, Houston’s Jeff Keppinger should be a reoccurring name—regardless of the Astros awful overall record.

Houston doesn’t need a newspaper column with a photo of a graveside and RIP to know their season is practically over.

Fans, writers, and announcers for the Astros have already swallowed that reality pill and realize Houston is in the process of rebuilding.

And that’s putting it nicely.

The Red Sox have traded minor league infielder Angel Sanchez to the Houston Astros in exchange for catcher Kevin Cash.

Cash, 32, hit .204 with two homers and four RBI for the Astros this season before being designated for assignment on June 23rd.

The acquisition was prompted by an injury to team captain Jason Varitek, reportedly a broken bone in his foot that will cause him to miss four to six weeks.

Cash spent part of the 2007 and 2008 with the Sox, hitting .207.

Growing up listening to Houston Astros games in South Texas, I remember right-handed pitcher Danny Darwin very well. He came to the Astros in 1986 and was popular in many ways.

Darwin was a Texas native from Bonham and was nicknamed "The Bonham Bullet" for his great fastball.

The only Astros radio station I could pick up in Beeville, Texas (about 60 miles northwest of Corpus Christi) was KSIX out of Corpus. The transmission wasn't very clear and for the longest time, I thought Darwin was nicknamed "The Bottom Bullet".

In some ways, the Houston Astros 3-1 loss last night against the San Francisco Giants was business as usual.

Roy Oswalt pitched seven innings, giving up two runs on six hits while striking out five. In other words, good enough for a win, but since he pitches for the punchless Astros, he fell to 5-9 on the season despite a 3.08 ERA.

I can't help but wonder if Oswalt kept waiting for his cell phone to ring with news from his agent that the New York Yankees wanted to trade for him and throw in, as a bonus, controlling stock in the Caterpillar Tractor Company.