The Rangers are well-stocked with starters after signing Japanese star Yu Darvish, but they could sign Oswalt as the precursor to a trade. The Cardinals, who beat the Rangers in the World Series last fall, have a need and plenty of money to spend after losing Albert Pujols.
The alternative for the Red Sox could be righthander Edwin Jackson.
Jackson was 12-9 with a 3.79 earned run average for the White Sox and Cardinals last season. He started four playoff games, going 1-0 with a 5.60 ERA.
He has been traded six times in the last six years and played for six teams. He is a free agent for the first time.
Jackson is appealing on several fronts. He is only 28 and has been extremely durable, throwing 806 1/3 innings over the last four seasons with a 4.06 ERA. He also spent parts of six seasons in the American League.
Although an unheralded member of this free agent class, Jackson could prove to be a wise investment given that he is in the prime of his career and has continued to improve.
ESPN’s Jim Bowden reported that the Red Sox had made an offer to Jackson and preferred him to Oswalt. But Boston general manager Ben Cherington would not comment specifically on Jackson.
“We’re still considering several options, including sitting tight,’’ he said.
The Red Sox have Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, and Jon Lester set atop their rotation. As it stands, the final spots will be determined in spring training. Daniel Bard, Alfredo Aceves, and a cast of veterans signed to minor league deals are among the possibilities.
“We’re talking to a few different guys,’’ Cherington said on WEEI. “We’re considering different things. If there’s a way to make our team better, whether it’s the rotation or whether it’s another part of the team, between now and spring training, we’ll do that.’’
In the same interview, Cherington said he was not constrained by baseball’s luxury tax threshold.
“When there’s a compelling reason to go over it, we’ve gone over it,’’ he said. “That could be the case this year. We’re going to look at every deal as it comes.
