Red Sox Meet With Agent Of Oswalt, Wilson

According to multiple sources, the Red Sox have met with Bob Garber, the agent of free agent pitchers Roy Oswalt (right) and C.J. Wilson. Of the two, I would definitely prefer Oswalt-- not because he is a better pitcher, but because he would be less likely to be a bust. Wilson is the best pitcher on a fairly weak free agent market after going 16-7/2.94/206 in 2011 and will probably get a very large deal of something around 5 years and $85-90 million. Oswalt, on the other hand, had an injury-hampered year in 2011, but it was the first time in 7 years he had not made 30 starts, he made 23 for the Phillies. In those 23 starts, he was certainly not bad, going 9-10/3.69/93. He is definitely not the Roy Oswalt in his prime, where from 2001-2008, he rattled off 8 consecutive years with an ERA under 4.00 to begin his career. However, he would be much more affordable that Wilson, and his consistency would be a huge asset. It may be difficult for Oswalt (and Wilson, less so) to adjust to the AL East, having played in the NL his whole career, however, I bet he could handle it. I would be very pleased to have Oswalt, but I'd be a bit surprised if they heavily chased C.J. Wilson.