Roy Oswalt Rumors: Red Sox, Phillies Remain Interested in Oswalt
By Editorial Staff
Yesterday it was reported by FOX Sports that the Red Sox and Phillies remain interested in free agent starter Roy Oswalt. Though the 34-year-old has expressed an interest in joining either the Rangers or Cardinals, it remains to be seen if the clubs will be a match for Oswalt. This leaves the door open for the Red Sox and Phillies, but FOX added that other clubs could potentially join the mix for Oswalt.
FOX indicated that, while Oswalt would prefer to join the Cardinals or Rangers who are relatively close to his Mississippi home, the right-hander may not fitinto either club’s plans. It’s unknown how much money Texas and St. Louis have left available this winter, and both teams may not have room in their starting rotations for Oswalt.
This has caused negotiations to draw out, and the result is Oswalt remaining on the open market as we near the second week of February. This delay has allowed other clubs to enter the mix for Oswalt; two of the veteran’s potential suitors being the Red Sox and Phillies.
The Red Sox have been in on Oswalt since it was first announced that he’d be willing to sign a one-year deal this offseason. Boston is reportedly working with a restricted budget this winter, and Oswalt’s interest in joining the Red Sox has been questioned. However, FOX reported that Boston and Oswalt continue to have “mutual interest” in one another.
FOX added that Oswalt also has some interest in returning to his former club, the Phillies. While Oswalt has said he had a “positive experience” in Philadelphia, the Phillies apparently haven’t been aggressively pursuing Oswalt, or any other starting pitchers, this offseason.
FOX initially reported that the Reds may have interest in Oswalt, but Ken Rosenthal later tweeted that Cincinnati was merely kicking the tires.
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