FanShot

Kubel move more questionable as Oswalt looks for a one-year deal

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Arizona GM Kevin Towers may have picked a bad time to become impatient. ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick is reporting that Roy Oswalt has stopped looking for a multi-year contract and is now interested in signing a one-year deal. Oswalt is coming off a down year and an injury, but is still arguably the best free agent starting pitcher available. Given Arizona's prior interest in a one-year deal with Kuroda in the $12M-$14M range, the Diamondbacks likely could have pursued Oswalt as an alternative had they not committed their winter budget to Kubel. With approximately the same amount of money involved with either option and the team in "Win Now" mode, this change in the pitching market makes the Kubel signing a tougher sell as the right move.