Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe has a few rumors to follow today:

Cafardo asked Seattle Mariners’ right-handed pitcher David Aardsma about a possible return to Boston as a seventh-inning man. I’ll take the ball whenever I’m called upon,’’ he said. “I enjoyed my time in Boston. Obviously, coming here gave me the opportunity to be a closer. I thought I was in a good rhythm last year, but haven’t been as solid this year. I have a better approach lately, but I’m not one of those [Mariano] Riveras or Jonathan Papelbons who is untouchable. If I’m traded, then I hope it’s to a good situation.’

A source close to Cafardo wonders whether Roy Oswalt would get too picky about which team he would approve a trade. One evaluator thinks Oswalt would do well in the American League. “He pounds that four-seam fastball low in the zone and he has that looping curve that could freeze hitters. He’s obviously a great competitor who would get his juices flowing in a pennant race. For the year and a half he has left on the contract? I’d think he’d be fine.’’

The same evaluator says that AL teams should be leery of acquiring Chicago Cubs left-handed pitcher Ted Lilly. “The way he pitches, listen, he has some trouble now in the National League against weaker lineups,’’ said the scout. “I know he’s pitched in the AL, but I think a team getting him wouldn’t have the feeling that he’d be a consistent performer for them every time he goes out there. Some lineups would definitely hurt him.’’ The Mets are known to be actively pursuing Lilly.

The Red Sox watched free agent right-handed pitcher Mark Prior’s workout last week, but they won’t sign him.