According to Craig Calcaterra, the Rangers are in fairly serious talks with the Astros to acquire Roy Oswalt.
↵Per Calcaterra:
↵↵↵A major league source is telling me that the Rangers have been talking to the Astros about Roy Oswalt and that the teams are “getting closer” to having a deal in place. It’s not yet clear which player(s) would be coming back from Texas to Houston, but my understanding is that the live bodies part of the deal is more or less agreed to.
↵But in place is not the same thing as done: the sticking point: the Rangers are trying to convince Major League Baseball — who holds the purse strings until the sale of the Rangers is complete — to allow them to take on Oswalt’s salary.
↵
Despite his putrid 4-8 win loss record (is it possible to get rid of wins for pitchers? Greinke and Oswalt are a combined 6-16), Oswalt is having a terrific season, posting a 1.09 WHIP, 3.16 ERA, with an 8.65 K/9 and 3.57 K/BB.
↵Obviously, there are a ton of ifs. The Rangers' financial situation is still quite a mess and we don’t know who the Rangers would be sending to Houston in exchange for Oswalt. It is encouraging to see that Jon Daniels and the Rangers brass are actively looking to improve the team by engaging in trade talks for Oswalt and Conor Jackson as previously reported. Oswalt would give the Rangers a huge boost not only for the rest of the year, but especially in the playoffs should Texas make it back to the post season.
↵Update: Buster Olney has a source that says there is nothing to the story. ESPN vs the World once again!
↵Update II: Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram talked to a team official who said there is "no truth" to the rumor.
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