Two weeks before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, Astros owner Drayton McLane had told ace righthander Roy Oswalt that he wanted to meet with Oswalt's agent in hopes of working out a deal. Bob Garber, Oswalt's agent, arrived in Houston on Tuesday night, and a visit is expected today between McLane, general manager Tim Purpura and Garber. "That was planned three or four weeks ago," McLane said. "That was way before the trade deadline." Oswalt, who is earning $11 million in the second year of a two-year $16.9 million contract, will be eligible for arbitration for the last time this winter and become a free agent after the 2007 season. He'll likely earn about $15 million if he goes to arbitration.