"The Cardinals didn't add a free agent Thursday but they did add incremental leverage for their future.

Free-agent pitcher Edwin Jackson, a key component in the Cardinals' late-season push last year and run to the World Series championship, signed a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals for about $10 million.

Landing Jackson enhances the Nats' progression from a NL East afterthought to a presumptive factor within a renovated division. It also brings the Cardinals a compensatory pick in this year's amateur draft, giving them five of the draft's first 58 selections under recently hired director of amateur scouting Dan Kantrovitz.

The Cardinals recently inquired about Jackson's asking price after agent Scott Boras changed his focus from a long-term deal to a one-year pillow contract that allows Jackson to re-enter free agency after the upcoming season.

Jackson, 5-2 with the Cardinals after his acquisition July 27 from the Chicago White Sox in a three-team deal that included the Toronto Blue Jays, brought his former team the draft's 58th overall pick as compensation.

Jackson's signing leaves Roy Oswalt as the most attractive free agent starting pitcher. While a Cardinals source insisted earlier this week that a signing of Oswalt was not "imminent," a meeting Monday between Oswalt and the Texas Rangers apparently failed to generate momentum toward an agreement.

The Cardinals, who also are trying to cultivate a trade market for reliever Kyle McClellan, might find their leverage only enhanced with Oswalt, a former All-Star who is reluctant to pitch in relief and prefers remaining near his Mississippi home."