Oswalt eager to know his future

Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt said Wednesday he and his family would need an ample amount of time to decide if they were going to accept any trade proposals given to him in advance of Saturday afternoon’s Trade Deadline.

Oswalt didn’t give any specifics, but said he doesn’t want to be approached with a trade proposal only an hour or so before the 3 p.m. CT deadline. Oswalt has been the center of trade speculation since he told the club in May he wanted to be traded to a contender.

“I’m hoping it’s not going to be dropped on me an hour before the deadline,” said Oswalt, who would have to waive his no-trade clause to approve any possible trades. “Give me a little bit of time to think about.”

Foxsports.com and KRIV-TV in Houston both reported Wednesday the Cardinals were out of the running for Oswalt, but MLB.com reported Tuesday the Phillies remain top contenders.  Oswalt is due to make $16 million next season in the last year of his contract, but there’s a club option for 2012 that would pay him another $16 million.

Oswalt, who’s scheduled to pitch Friday in an attempt to tie the club’s all-time win record, said he hasn’t been approached by the club about any possible trades. And if they do approach him, he wants enough time to make the appropriate decision for him.

“You do need a little bit of time,” he said. “I don’t want it to be two hours before the deadline and have to make a quick decision. I would rather have a little bit of time to think about it.”