Roy Oswalt has wanted a chance to play for a winner, and he mused to a friend earlier this year that he wants what Roy Halladay got in the offseason — a chance to land with a team capable of winning the World Series. And so it could be that today or tomorrow, if the Phillies and Astros work out a tentative agreement for the right-hander, Oswalt will have a chance to accept or reject the exact opportunity that Halladay had — to pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies.

In order to make this happen, and to balance out their budget numbers, the Phillies are in simultaneous talks with the Tampa Bay Rays about outfielder Jayson Werth.

But talent evaluators with other teams were asking an interesting question late Tuesday night, as ESPN reported the on-going talks: If the Phillies land Roy Oswalt, are they good enough to contend for the World Series?