Boston Red Sox Desperate for Pitching, Offers Made to Oswalt and Jackson

The Boston Red Sox are playing catch up to the New York Yankees.

After missing out on the playoffs last season, the Red Sox are trying to make sure it does not happen again.

According to Buster Olney, the Red Sox have offered Roy Oswalt a one-year deal worth around $5 million and have also offered a deal to Edwin Jackson. Details of Jackson's offer are unknown.

The Red Sox are faced with the task of battling the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays again this season.

The Yankees have upgraded their pitching greatly with the additions of Michael Pineda and Hiroki Kuroda.

It looks as though Boston is more likely to land Jackson over Oswalt.

Rick Blaine of Yahoo! Sports suggests there are indications Oswalt wants to stay close to his Arkansas home. 

This would mean the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers would be the best fit of the teams in contention for him.

Oswalt has a history of back problems, which might prove to be a gamble anyways. However, he is a proven pitcher when he stays healthy.

Jackson is five years younger and has a 60-60 career record. 

He has certainly shown talent throughout his career, but would have to adjust to pitching in an atmosphere like Boston.

The Red Sox would be happy to land either of these pitchers, but Oswalt would be the better option. 

He is a veteran who would not have a problem with the pressure of pitching in the American League East.

Although Oswalt went 9-10 in an injury-plagued season last year, he has a career 159-93 record and a 3.21 ERA.