Roy Oswalt Rumors: Jake Peavy on Oswalt

Roy Oswalt is “getting ready to play” this season, says long-time friend Jake Peavy.  When asked about Oswalt, Peavy promised Jon Morosi of FOX Sports that the free agent is currently preparing for his upcoming 2012 campaign.  While it doesn’t appear that the St. Louis Cardinals are interested in Oswalt, the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels have all recently been tied to the right-hander.

Back in the beginning of April, a source told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that it would take Oswalt roughly 60 days to get ready to pitch at the major league level.  This jived with rumors that Oswalt wouldn’t be returning before June.

It appears that Oswalt will wait until closer to mid-season to sign his new contract.  In doing so, Oswalt will be able to hand-pick which contender he joins as he continues his search for a World Series title.  Oswalt has said that he’d be willing to sign anywhere this summer, but the family-first veteran would likely prefer to stay close to his Mississippi home.

Earlier this month, Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post speculated that the Red Sox, Braves and Rangers were the favorites to sign Oswalt.  Back in March the Angels were tabbed as the frontrunner for Oswalt by ESPN’s Jim Bowden.

With Chris Carpenter’s injury Oswalt seemed like a fit with the Cardinals, but St. Louis turned to Lance Lynn and doesn’t appear to have interest in signing the veteran at this point.

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