The winds of change continue to blow through Houston this winter.

Monday, the Astros dealt their Dexter Fowler to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for third baseman Luis Valbuena and right-hander Dan Straily.

Fowler, who was expected to be the team’s long-term answer in center and at the leadoff position, was moved just one year after he was acquired from the Colorado Rockies for outfielder Brandon Barnes and right-hander Jordan Lyles.

The 28-year-old Fowler hit .276 with eight homers and 35 RBIs last year. With a career average of .271, Fowler asked last week for $10.8 million in arbitration and was offered $8.5 million. He is eligible for free agency after the season.

“If a player isn’t helping us win games, we have other options,” Houston general manager Jeff Luhnow told . “Valbuena will get a long, hard look at third base.”

Valbuena played third base mostly last year, hitting .249 with 33 doubles, 16 homers and 51 RBIs. Valbuena agreed Friday to a $4.2 million, one-year contract and can become a free agent after the 2016 World Series.

Straily, 26, was 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA last season in eight starts and six relief appearances for Oakland and the Cubs, who acquired him as part of the trade that sent Jeff Samardzija to the Athletics. He was 10-8 for the A’s in 2013.

“Dexter was a big part of our team last year and would have been a big part of our team this year, but he’s in high demand by other clubs,” Luhnow told Astros.com. “We talked to a few clubs about him and pretty much resisted trading him until the Cubs made this offer available.

“At that point, we felt we needed to do it. This is a deal that improves our team in 2015 and gives us some exciting players beyond 2015. Dexter was going to be a free agent after this year. Not that we could have been involved in trying to sign him, but you never know with those things.

This comes as the Astros have changed directions this winter, going from a young team with a bright future to trying to win now.

Last week Houston acquired slugger Evan Gattis from the Braves. That came after signing shortstop Jed Lowrie and relief pitchers Luke Gregerson and Pat Neshek as free agents.

Luhnow has said this winter that he thinks the Astros can win in 2015 after improving 19 games last summer. Before that they were the first franchise to lose 100 or more games in three straight seasons.

Whether other moves are coming or not is unknown.

“We’re comfortable with the way the team stands today, but we’re not going to stop looking at ways to improve the club,” Luhnow said. “There are still some free agents we have interest in and there’s still some potential trade opportunities. The work continues, but we’re happy with where the club is today. If we had to go to Spring Training right now, we’d be satisfied.”

In this Aug. 17

Michael Dwyer