Roy Returns? Don't burst our bubble. (c) Houston Astros

Not so fast. Houston signed pitcher Zach Duke to a one-year minor league deal on Friday. The southpaw, still only 28, has compiled a 48-74 record and a 4.56 ERA in seven big league seasons, mostly with the Pirates. The Texas native will be a longshot for the starting rotation but he becomes a greater possibility if the Astros are able to trade Wandy Rodriguez, Brett Myers or both.

A week ago, the Astros came to terms with free agent catcher Chris Snyder, a Houston native, on a one-year contract with an option for 2013. Snyder, who will be 31 by Opening Day, has hit .231 with 70 homers over eight seasons with Arizona and Pittsburgh. Snyder is also recovering from lower back surgery he had last summer. With Jason Castro possibly not being ready to open the season after foot surgery in December, Snyder could easily break camp sharing backstop duties with Humberto Quintero.

To make room for Snyder, the Astros designated infielder Angel Sanchez for assignment.

But the big jolt to the roster could be a name well known in these parts. Houston is rumored to be in the mix for veteran star pitcher Roy Oswalt, according to some tweets out of Boston. Oswalt is also talking to the Red Sox and the Cardinals.

The intriguing part about bringing Oswalt to Houston is that he can be used as a public relations and attendance boost if he returned, could set the franchise record for victories (he's one behind Joe Niekro) and he would probably not object to being traded again in July to a pennant contender.

While he certainly would expand the payroll above what ownership prefers, Roy would practically pay for himself in what the club would get out of him while he is here and, presumably, after he is gone. It's no secret Oswalt wants to return to the World Series before he retires and was disappointed that didn't happen for him while in Philadelphia. Coming to Houston would, no doubt, be a way for him to pick a contender in July to be traded to before the deadline.

He would likely prefer to pitch for the World Champion Cardinals and reunite with Lance Berkman but the Redbirds have five legit starters already. The Red Sox would be riskier after they missed the playoffs last year and, like the Cardinals, have gone through off-season managerial changes.

The new regime would love to lure back fans and probably nobody except Berkman would be more welcomed back than Oswalt who notched 143 wins in 10 seasons as an Astro, including a pair of 20-win seasons during their playoff years.