Red Sox Rumors: Still in on Roy Oswalt, Edwin Jackson

Things are moving quickly in Boston, where the Red Sox, players, agents, and various media are playing a game of will-they/won't-they chicken with Roy Oswalt and Edwin Jackson rumors. And when I say "moving quickly," I mean no real movement is taking place.

We heard earlier today that the Red Sox are likely out of the picture on Jackson, and we knew that Oswalt doesn't want to pitch in Fenway this season...but now we're seeing (courtesy of Alex Speier, WEEI) that no, the Red Sox are still involved. On both.

What to make of this discrepancy? I'm speculating here, but this looks an awful lot like one source knowing more than the other -- or one source actively trying to keep a market alive for his clients. *ahem*. Here's the latest:

• Source: Sox still talking to Oswalt, Jackson - Alex Speier | WEEI
  "According to a major league source, the Red Sox continue to talk with free agent starters Roy Oswalt and Edwin Jackson about the possibility of signing with Boston for 2012. However, the source said, neither pitcher appears close to a deal to join the team. The source characterized a report that the team was "most likely out of the picture" on Jackson as inaccurate."
• Boston Likely Out on Edwin Jackson - Gordon Edes | ESPN Boston
  "Also Wednesday, a baseball source said that the Red Sox have made an offer but are "most likely out of the picture" for Edwin Jackson, the top starting pitcher remaining on the free-agent market, because there are better deals on the table from other clubs."

• Stalemate continues with Oswalt - Ken Rosenthal
  "Talks are fluid and can accelerate quickly, but Oswalt’s agent, Bob Garber, appears to be in a bind. If Oswalt does not want to play for the Boston Red Sox or any other interested club, all the agent can do is wait. And the Rangers and Cardinals know it."
• Twitter / @pgammo: Bud Selig still hasn't rec ...
  Bud Selig still hasn't received written arguments in Cubs-Red Sox compensation case. "OK, I've defined 'significant compensation-Soriano..."
• Boston Red Sox, David Ortiz Likely Headed To Hearing - MLB Daily Dish
  If the two sides cannot reach an agreement by the hearing date, which is set in mid-February, they will plead their cases in front of a third-party arbitration panel. The 36-year-old Ortiz is asking for $16.5 million, but the Red Sox want to pay Ortiz the same $12.5 million salary as they did in 2011 once more.
• What the Boston Red Sox Need to do to Win the AL East - MLB Daily Dish
  As of now, the Red Sox need about 2.0 WAR to get back to where they were last season, and that easily can be replaced by good decisions in the starting rotation. To get five more wins, they will need players like Carl Crawford to step up and be the player he is. He was a 7.6 WAR player before last season, and if he can do that, then that will easily get the Red Sox into the playoffs.
• Boston Red Sox Complete Organizational Chart - MLB Daily Dish
  Boston Red Sox Complete Organizational Chart -- Rosters, Salaries, Leadership, and Prospects for the entire Boston org.