Astros get right-hander Straily for Fowler

If right-hander Dan Straily was missing the American League West after being dealt from the A's to the Cubs last summer, well, he got good news Monday.

Straily and infielder Luis Valbuena were traded from Chicago to Houston on Monday in exchange for outfielder Dexter Fowler, the teams announced.

Straily -- acquired in the blockbuster Jeff Samardzija deal last summer -- split 2014 between the Majors and the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. In PCL stints with Sacramento and Iowa, the 26-year-old posted a 4.42 ERA in 20 starts, striking 123 batters in 118 innings.

In 14 Major League apperances (eight starts), he posted a 6.75 ERA with 47 punchouts in 52 innings. The 2009 24th-round pick figures to compete for a spot in Houston's rotation this spring.

In Fowler, Chicago gets a bridge piece until younger outfield options -- including Top 20 prospects like Albert Almora, Billy McKinney and possibly Kyle Schwarber -- are ready to take on regular Major League duty. The outfielder is arbitration eligible and will likely make around $8-10 million in 2015 before becoming eligible for free agency.

The 28-year-old has played center field almost exclusively as a big leaguer, posting a .366 on-base percentage and .786 OPS during his seven-year Major League career.

The deal also clears a third baseman out of the way of Chicago's top prospect, Kris Bryant. The 2013 first-rounder (second overall) obliterated Double-A and Triple-A pitching with 43 homers and a 1.098 OPS last season. The 23-year-old earned a MiLBY as the Minor League's Best Offensive Player for his performance.

Bryant may not break camp with the Cubs, but the plan appears to be that he'll join the Major League roster at some point in 2015. The New York Post's Joel Sherman reports the Cubs plan use some combination of Mike Olt, Tommy LaStella and Arismendy Alcantara at third base until Bryant is deemed ready.