If you believe Nick Cafardo, the Cardinals can afford Roy Oswalt but the Red Sox cannot. Oh, what an interesting world we find ourselves. In.

Veteran free-agent righthander Roy Oswalt would be an excellent veteran presence in Boston's starting rotation, and even though the Red Sox are aware that Oswalt would be open to a one-year deal, he still appears to be out of Boston's price range.

The Sox may have competition from the Yankees on Oswalt, who is also being eyes by the St. Louis Cardinals, where Oswalt would love to pitch.

Really? I would figure any player would be in Boston's price range, for one year. Well, maybe not Alex Rodriguez. He's making $29 million this year, which is a lot for a guy who's been reduced to relying on Kobe Bryant for medical advice. Plus the Red Sox already have an injury-prone third baseman. But just about anybody else would seem to fit.

Oswalt doesn't seem like a Boston guy, though, does he? Let alone a New York guy?

Hey, if the money's right almost anything's possible. And it's not like Philadelphia is Texarkana. If you can take it there, you can take it anywhere (unless you're Terry Mulholland).

But man, doesn't Roy Oswalt just feel like a St. Louis Cardinal already? Can't you see him wearing those beautiful home whites already? Didn't you just spend three seconds confirming in your head that Roy Oswalt hasn't already been a St. Louis Cardinal?

Make this happen, everyone. The American League East has plenty of talent already. My only concern is that the Cardinals might make a mockery of the N.L. Central race if they add Oswalt to an already stocked roster.