Phillies Not Actively Pursuing Roy Oswalt

With the news that Phillies starter Vance Worley was headed to the disabled list, and prior to the apparently good news that an MRI on Wednesday revealed no structural damage to the right-hander's elbow, the name of Phillies' erstwhile fourth ace Roy Oswalt began bubbling up.

Todd Zolecki spoke to Phillies General Manager and noted truth-teller Ruben Amaro, Jr., who said that the Phillies are not actively pursuing the currently unemployed veteran.

"We think he’s throwing," Ruben Amaro Jr. said of Oswalt. "I guess he is. But right now what I’m worried about is our team playing better. That’s my focus right now. I feel comfortable with the starters we have. If we get to the point where we’re not comfortable with him then that might be something we explore. But I will tell you that right now I’m happy with our guys the way we are right now, unless something changes. I think we’ve got other fish to fry right now."

With the apparently good news about Worley, I can't imagine the Phillies looking to acquire more pitching mid-season, unless someone else gets hurt, or if Worley's injury keeps him out longer than expected. Oswalt allegedly spurned offers from at least a couple contenders over the winter, including the Tigers.

Oswalt, 34, struggled with injuries in 2011, posting a 9-10 record with a 3.69 ERA and a career-worst 6.0 strikeouts per nine innings, and 2.82 strikeout-to-walk ratio.