The Cardinals want Roy Oswalt and Roy Oswalt wants the Cardinals.

The Cardinals have been in talks with the Astros for several days and have emerged as the “front-runners” to land Oswalt, according to a Hardball Talk report. And a major league source told MLB.com Oswalt “would love” to pitch for the Cardinals. So much so that he would not make the Cardinals pick up his $16 million option for 2012.

Oswalt’s insistence that the Phillies pick it up was the reported reason that talks between Philadelphia and Houston hit a standstill.