Roy Oswalt Could Sign With the Texas Rangers as Early as This Week

Veteran free agent pitcher Roy Oswalt could sign with the Texas Rangers as early as this week according to a report from ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.

Oswalt, who pitched last season for the Phillies, has auditioned for the Dodger, Red Sox, and Phillies this season, but it is believed that Texas will be his final destination.

The Dodgers worked out Oswalt this week and declined to make him any offer after speaking with him. Members of the Los Angeles front office feel that Oswalt has already chosen Texas.

I would be shocked if he doesn't go to Texas, a baseball official said to Crasnick. A team is going to have to greatly outbid Texas to keep him from going there.

The Rangers lost Neftali Feliz to a shoulder injury on May 18, and the Rangers have thrown their search for an extra arm into high gear since he went down.

Though Feliz has made it clear he prefers to remain a starter, if the Rangers sign Oswalt, it would likely mean Feliz is headed back to the bullpen where he excelled in his first three seasons, two of them as the Rangers' closer.

The 34-year-old Oswalt spent most of his 11 year career with the Houston Astros before he was traded to the Phillies in 2010. He has a career record of 159-93 with an ERA of 3.21 and a WHIP of 1.19.

Oswalt would join a rotation in Texas that features Colby Lewis, Derek Holland, Yu Darvish and Matt Harrison and a pitching staff that boasts the fewest earned runs and third most strikeouts in the American League.

The Rangers are currently 31-18, one game back of the Dodgers for the best record in baseball.