According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals made an offer "approaching $5 million" earlier this winter to free agent Roy Oswalt. Strauss suspects that the Rangers will ultimately win the bidding for Oswalt with a contract worth between $7-8 million. The Cardinals are unlikely to up their offer given that they already have a full starting rotation for 2012 and will need a spot soon for top pitching prospect Shelby Miller. Oswalt, 34, posted a 3.69 ERA and 93/33 K/BB ratio across 139 innings last season for the Phillies.