So, a few days ago, when reports emerged that Roy Oswalt had turned down an offer from the Tigers, it looked like the Red Sox were sitting pretty. The Red Sox had a need. The Red Sox had the money. The Red Sox could promise Oswalt a shot at a championship. The Red Sox traded Marco Scutaro to clear payroll space. Plus, Oswalt didn't seem to have a very active group of suitors.
But according to Ken Rosenthal, Oswalt going to Boston is by no means a lock. As a matter of fact, Oswalt might not want to pitch for Boston at all.
Oswalt's a guy from the south who would prefer to be near the south. Kind of explains this:
Oswalt, according to major-league sources, wants to pitch for either the Texas Rangers or St. Louis Cardinals, a stance first reported by MLB Network's Peter Gammons.
And kind of explains why he might be hesitant to commit to a town in Massachusetts. Even if for just a year. Oswalt isn't that interested in the money; he'd love for there to be an opening closer to home.
But that's the thing. At present, the Rangers don't have an opening in the rotation. At present, the Cardinals don't have an opening in the rotation. The Rangers actually have too many starters, and the Cardinals would need to move Kyle Lohse or Jake Westbrook.
So we'll see. Oswalt, presumably, will sign somewhere. Boston isn't out of the question. The Rangers could make a play, just for the hell of it. The Nationals could re-emerge. The Indians could arrive. And so on. Roy Oswalt hasn't signed yet, but don't mistake that as a lack of interest in Roy Oswalt. It would be crazy if there weren't much interest in Roy Oswalt.