There’s an expectation that Roy Oswalt will agree to sign with an MLB team this week, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). The Rangers, Orioles, Red Sox, Phillies and Dodgers have all been linked to the free agent right-hander in recent weeks. We'll keep track of today's Oswalt rumors right here with the most recent updates up top:
- The Rangers are actively engaged in negotiations with Oswalt, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. The Rangers definitely want to sign the right-hander, a team official told Nightengale. The Dodgers have renewed interest with Ted Lilly on the disabled list and plan to discuss a possible deal. Oswalt seeks $5-7.5MM.
- The Rangers would need approval from ownership to sign Oswalt since the team is over-budget, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). There are mixed opinions about Oswalt in the Texas front office. Ownership approval appears to be the lone roadblock preventing the Rangers from signing Oswalt, Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi write.
- Baseball officials are convinced Oswalt will sign with the Rangers, ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick reports. The right-hander has given teams indications that he prefers the Rangers over other clubs. "I would be shocked if he doesn't go to Texas,'' one of Crasnick’s sources said. "A team is going to have to greatly outbid Texas to keep him from going there.''
- The Rangers could use Oswalt now that Neftali Feliz is on the disabled list. The Orioles are known to be seeking pitching and their division rivals, the Red Sox, have endured the struggles of Clay Buchholz and Daniel Bard. Phillies starters are dealing with injuries and the Dodgers actually made Oswalt an offer earlier this year.
