The Los Angeles Dodgers watched pitcher Roy Oswalt throw last week in Starkville, Miss., a baseball source said. But team officials are convinced that Oswalt is going to sign with the Texas Rangers -- possibly as early as this week.

Oswalt, who had previously auditioned for the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox and the Rangers, has given teams indications that Texas is his destination of choice. He has a close relationship with club president Nolan Ryan, and he apparently likes the thought of pitching for a contending team that's close to his Mississippi home.

"I would be shocked if he doesn't go to Texas," a baseball official said. "A team is going to have to greatly outbid Texas to keep him from going there."

Oswalt, 34, has a career record of 159-93 in 11 seasons with Houston and Philadelphia. He is a three-time All-Star who has finished among the top five in National League Cy Young Award balloting five times in his career.

After waiting until spring training and failing to land a job to his satisfaction, Oswalt told major league clubs in late February that he planned to wait until midseason to return.

Several contending clubs recently have incurred injuries that could heighten the interest in Oswalt.