Roy Oswalt Rumors: Rangers Favorites to Sign Oswalt

The Texas Rangers are the favorites to sign free agent right-hander Roy Oswalt, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.  Olney heard from several rival executives that fully expect Oswalt to land with the Rangers for several reasons, including Texas’s proximity to the 34-year-old’s Mississippi home.  Beyond the Rangers, the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies have also been connected to Oswalt recently.

The unnamed executives that Olney spoke with said they are expecting Oswalt to sign with the Rangers for multiple reasons.

Perhaps first and foremost, the Rangers play relatively close to Oswalt’s Mississippi home.  Oswalt made it clear this offseason that he prefers to pitch closer to Mississippi which made the Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals early favorites in the chase for the veteran starter.  While Oswalt’s said that he is willing to sign anywhere this midseason, you’d have to figure that he’d still prefer to land as close to his home and family as he can.

Geographical reasons aren’t the only ones that make Texas the favorites to land Oswalt in the eyes of the executives.  The Rangers also offer Oswalt the opportunity to team up with pitching coach Mike Maddux and president Nolan Ryan.

Olney followed his initial bit of rumor news by stating that the Rangers have yet to make a formal offer to Oswalt.  As of yet it appears that no club has extended a contract to the 34-year-old, though the Rangers, Red Sox and Phillies have all worked him out and watched him throw.

For more on the Rangers be sure to check out Nolan Writin’.