Beerleaguer - Phillies Blog, Baseball News, Trade Rumors & Spirits

Dobbs moves on with minor league deal from Marlins

Greg Dobbs, who set the Phillies' all-time single season record with 22 pinch hits in 2008, jumps ship to the rival Marlins.

Dobbs, who was non-tendered after the season after hitting just .196/.251/.331 in '10, spent four productive seasons with the Phillies as their primary pinch hitter, on-and-off third baseman and extremely on-and-off outfielder and first baseman. Completely lost at the plate, he was twice designated for assignment last season and graciously accepted his demotions to Lehigh Valley, where he hit .210. All told, he hit .261/.310/.427 with 29 homers and 130 RBIs in four seasons with the club, arriving in Philadelphia after he was claimed off waivers from the Mariners after the 2006 season. Dobbs received an invite to Marlins spring training, where he will compete for a job as Wes Helms' insurance policy.

Baseball dawns for spring training early arrivers

Spring Training officially opens in two weeks, but that hasn’t stopped several Phillies from getting an early jump on the action.

Roy Halladay, Ryan Howard, Domonic Brown and Kyle Kendrick are among the early arrivals to camp, Tweeted top right-handed prospect Jarred Cosart yesterday. Other noteworthy players include pitchers Michael Schwimer, Justin De Fratus, Mike Zagurski and Scott Mathieson, all of whom will join the big league camp constituency this spring. The Phillies typically announce non-roster invites to several young prospects too, as they did with Tyson Gillies and Phillippe Aumont a season ago; both are already in camp. Cosart himself could receive such a late invitation, as could outfielder Jiwan James, who is also there.

Grilli appears to have finalized deal: Speaking of Twitter, Beerleaguer broke news yesterday of Jason Grilli tipping his status with this Tweet: “This Italian Stallion is fired up about the City of Brotherly Love! Balboa workouts paid off and ready to go!” Follow Grilli's Twitter here.

Door still open for Durbin: CSNPhilly.com’s Jim Salisbury reports that a person close to Chad Durbin says the free-agent reliever continues to mull several offers, including one from the Phillies. "The door is definitely not closed,’” the source told Salisbury. “He wants to go back to Philly.” Durbin is reportedly seeking a two-year deal and an annual raise over last season’s $2.15M figure.

Savery pegged for Double-A first base? Many people thought the Phillies would lose former first-round pick Joe Savery to the Rule 5 draft after he was left unprotected, but the Phils were able to keep him. Last week, Mike Drago of the Reading Eagle caught up with Phillies assistant general manager Benny Looper to get a status update on the pitcher-turned-first baseman. "He's a good-looking hitter," Looper said. "We want to give him a chance." Savery will play first base when minor league camp opens. When asked if he has a shot at Reading’s opening at first, Looper said "That's a spring training question, (but) I wouldn't be surprised."

Ibanez began Jersey-based workouts in November

The start of Spring Training is just over two weeks away, but left-fielder Raul Ibanez is already ready.

Ibanez has been working out with strength and conditioning trainer Steve Saunders at the Power Train Sports Institute in Cherry Hill since November. Saunders is known for his work in preparing college football players for the NFL combine and has worked with such players as Brent Celek, Todd Herremans, Hines Ward and James Harrison. Ibanez, who hit .275/.349/.444 with 16 homers and 83 RBIs last season, is well over a year removed from sports hernia surgery. The 38-year-old outfielder started the 2010 season slowly, but turned it on in the second half, hitting .309/.375/.494 after the All-Star break. He is a free agent after the season.

Phillies linked to journeyman right-hander Grilli

A source for CSNPhilly.com confirmed that a deal with Jason Grilli is not final, but suggested the right-hander could be brought in on a minor deal.

Grilli, the fourth pick overall in the 1997 draft by the San Francisco Giants, confirmed on his personal Twitter account yesterday that he hasn’t signed with anyone yet in a correspondence set in motion by several Internet rumors reporting that he had signed with the Phillies. The 34-year-old journeyman right-hander has spent parts of eight seasons as a Major League reliever, including stops in Detroit, Florida, Chicago (AL), and most recently, splitting the 2009 season with Colorado and Texas, pitching to a combined 2-3 mark, a 5.32 ERA and 49/27 K/BB ratio in 45 2-3 innings. He owns a 4.74 career ERA in 238 appearances, all but 16 of them in relief.

Beerleaguer: Last spring, Grilli was invited to Indians spring training on a minor league deal, but blew out his quadriceps tendon during agility drills and missed the entire season. Grilli is a fastball-slider type who throws reasonably hard.

Minor moves: Phils release power prospect Durant

First baseman Michael Durant, 24, was the Phillies' fourth pick in the 2005 draft and was once considered the club's best power prospect. He missed all of 2010 with what seems to be an injury, although details on his situation are limited. The hulking 6-5 prospect last hit .211/.312/.365 with 12 homers and 142 strikeouts in 2009 for Class-A Clearwater. By 2007, he was no longer considered a prospect. The Phillies also released right-hander Mauricio Romero, who last pitched in 2008 with Clearwater. The moves were reported by Baseball America's latest transaction update.

Video: Eskin unhappy that Halladay doesn't talk

Beerleaguer: Now that I think of it, the last time I heard Halladay speak, he was trying to decipher David Aldridge's weird, awkward, garbled line of questioning following his NLDS no-hitter. I also can't remember the last time a Phillie said something - off the cuff - that was particularly insightful or compelling. "We are the team to beat," may be the last. Or maybe the time Jamie Moyer voiced his frustration over his 2009 bullpen demotion, which was, if memory serves, immediately criticized by the very same media. If you want honesty and spontaneity from your Philadelphia athletes, try following a few of them on Twitter. Apart from that, they'll follow the same "aw shucks" script, and it seems like the Phillies, in general, have become quite good at being intentionally dull and avoiding newsgatherers, particularly the one in question here.

If Doc doesn't speak on non-pitching days - and I'll take Eskin at his word on that - he wouldn't be the first. In my embarrassingly limited experience, players are extremely reluctant to carve out bonus time for the growing media hoards swarming the locker room. Maybe Halladay's shy. Or busy with his workouts. Or maybe he just doesn't like reporters or gigantic high-def cameras in his face. As long as he's winning 21 games, why should anyone care? And as a consumer of news, I'd rather have the journalist's time spent telling us what the Phillies are doing to win us a championship.

Manuel on contract: ‘It's just a matter of time’

Charlie Manuel discussed his expiring contract yesterday on 610-WIP radio. It sure sounds like a non-issue.

No news is good news. Or sometimes, no news is simply no news. The well of topical Phillies news has run bone dry. It’s a struggle to fill column inches. See Monday's post. As a result, you get these little John Maine-type “dust-ups” like the Manuel story, which is a non-story, and everyone knows it. He’s a Phillie for life. Does anyone honestly think he’s going to play hardball? Expect the situation to be resolved shortly. The idea that this could degenerate into some sort of distraction is also absurd. Actually, the only noteworthy item from yesterday's interview was news that John Mayberry Jr. can expect to get some reps at first base this spring. It's the kiss of death for Mike Sweeney. Or more accurately, the hug of death.

International notes: Versatile Aussie Tim Kennelly is set for the Australian Baseball League semi-finals. The 24-year-old catcher, outfielder and corner infielder will be in the outfield when his Perth squad faces Sydney in Game 1 action on Thursday. He finished the ABL regular season with a modest .245/.307/.400 slash line. Kennelly spent the entire 2010 season with Clearwater, mostly behind the plate. In other news, switch-hitting second baseman Alan Schoenberger, who played for Lakewood last season, put a .728 OPS on the barbie for Brisbane. Changing hemispheres, Michael Martinez’s Estrellas club suffered a five-game sweep in the Dominican Winter League finals. The Phillies’ Rule 5 pick finished the postseason hitting .241.

Spanning the globe for your favorite former Phillies

Presenting the annual "have bat, will travel" report, a status update of all-star Beerleaguers who kept the dream alive in independent league obscurity this season.

Randall Simon, 1B, (Class of '06), Gary SouthShore and Rockford, Northern League; Tadahito Iguchi, 2B, ('07-08), Chiba Lotte, Japan; Danny Sandoval, SS, ('05-06), Grosseto, Italy; Abraham Nunez, 3B ('06-07), New Jersey, Can-Am League; Chris Roberson, OF, ('06-07) Monterrey, Mexico; TJ Bohn, OF ('08), Sioux City, American Association; Reggie Taylor, ('00-01), Tabasco, Mexico and Lancaster, Atlantic League; Pete LaForest, C, ('07) Quebec, Can-Am and Somerset, Atlantic; Yoel Hernandez ('07), Oaxaca, Mexico; JD Durbin ('07), Fukuoka, Japan; Eude Brito ('05-06), St. George, Golden League; Antonio Alfonseca ('07), Bridgeport, Atlantic League; Jerry Spradlin ('97-98), Maui, Golden League; Les Walrond ('08), Doosan, Korean; Eric Junge ('02-03), Lancaster, Atlantic League; Julio Santana ('06), Tijuana, Golden League; Anderson Garcia ('07), Rio Grande Valley, United League; Kane Davis ('07) Long Island, Atlantic League.

Beerleaguer: It never ceases to amaze that the '07 squad lurched into the postseason with "key" contributors like Anderson Garcia and Kane Davis paving the way. The scary part is that Charlie Manuel was forced to work Davis into several late inning situations that September. Yikes. This is some list; these are first-ballot Beerleaguers all the way, and they're still collecting paychecks. TJ Bohn. Julio Santana. Jerry Spradlin for crying out loud. Cheers guys.

Sunday notebook: LHP Robertson signs with Seattle

Nate Robertson, 33, appeared in two games with the Phillies late in 2010 and was released after he was shelled with six runs in less than an inning against Florida on Sept. 8.

Robertson, who started 18 games for the Marlins (6-8, 5.47 ERA) and also spent time with the Cardinals' Triple-A team in Memphis, signed a minor league pact with the Phillies on Aug. 24 and was called up for bullpen support two weeks later. After he was bombed by Florida, the Phillies wasted little time by cutting him the next day. Proving that even horrible lefties last forever, the Mariners have invited him to spring training. Also of note, the Mariners signed Jody Gerut to a minor deal, a versatile outfielder I wouldn't have minded as minor league insurance for Shane Victorino. … On a related front, the Diamondbacks signed utility infielder Cody Ransom to a minor league deal this week. Ransom appeared in 22 games and went 8-for-42 (.190) with a pair of home runs for the Phils, including a game-tying blast in the Phillies' July 9 comeback thriller against the Reds. In 443 plate appearances with the IronPigs, he hit .261/.333/.467 with 18 homers, getting the call when Chase Utley and Placido Polanco went on the shelf. Ransom, 34, joins Lehigh Valley teammate Andy Tracy, who signed with the D-Backs earlier this winter and was also invited to camp this week. … And speaking of the Phillies' bench, Mike Sweeney tells ESPN's Jayson Stark that he hopes to play next season and is holding out for a Major League deal. The Phillies would reportedly have interest, but only on a minor league flier. Sweeney went 12-52 (.231) with two homers and two-hundred hugs in his brief lovefest with the Phils. Stark sees San Diego as a fit for Sweeney as a platoon partner with Brad Hawpe.

MLB notes: For the sake of discussion, here are some noteworthy signings from around the league: Former Phil Nick Punto decided on St. Louis; the Mets landed Chris Young and Scott Hairston this week; the Rays have agreed to deals with outfielders Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez; the Jays traded Vernon Wells to the Angels for Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera; Vlad Guerrero may eventually go to Baltimore, but nothing is imminent. Finally, there has been no movement on the Greg Dobbs and Chad Durbin front, although with all the free agent shuffling that happened this week, Durbin could have a clearer picture of where he'll pitch and how much he'll earn very soon.

‘Overlooked’ Hernandez rated highly among 2B peers

The brightest hope for middle infield help beyond Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins could rest in the hands of 20-year-old infielder Cesar Hernandez.

Hernandez, an elfin, switch-hitting defender who demonstrated some genuine ability to handle the stick in the New York-Penn League last season, has surfaced on a pair of prominent offseason rankings, including a strong endorsement from MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo, who rated him as the seventh-best 2B prospect in baseball this week. That’s terrific news for a team that hasn’t had a young middle infielder to get chubbed up about since Rollins and Utley came through the system. The Phils have groomed a fair share of petite run, catch and throw farmhands over the years, but most of them have fallen short on offensive ability, which is the understatement of the year. But Hernandez appears to be cut from a different cloth. His 32 steals rated second in the league and he was sixth in hitting (.325). He finished with a nice .325/.390/.392 in 286 plate appearances.

He doesn’t possess much power potential, and isn’t especially young, but unlike shortstop prospect Jonathan Villar, who was traded Houston in the Roy Oswalt deal, he’s strikingly disciplined (27/26 K/BB) and booted just seven balls in 321 chances, compared to 153 hacks and 53 errors for Villar, albeit in twice as many games. Mayo isn’t the only impressed insider. Jon Sickels of minorleagueball.com listed Hernandez as the club's 11th-best prospect, and best infielder, citing excellent speed and defense in a pitcher-friendly New York-Penn League. “I think he is overlooked,” he writes.

Beer nuts: Right-hander San Larazo Solano, 20, a member of the Phillies' Dominican Summer League team, was suspended 50 games for testing positive for performance enhancers. He was 4-3 with a 2.57 ERA in a 12 appearances, eight as a starter. ... In other news, the Phillies, in their quest to lead the league in sensory overload, have installed a giant scoreboard 2.5-times bigger than the old one. They also plan to raise the volume of their PA system by several decibels to cancel out the noise of passing airplanes, fighter jets and alien invasion.

Beerleaguer is now on Facebook !!!

Thursday: Polanco followed in Ibanez's footsteps

Placido Polanco's return was compromised by elbow injury, just as a nagging abdominal strain put a damper on Raul Ibanez's scorching debut.

Polanco and Ibanez know what it's like to leave something on the table because they had to suck it up. On April 21, a running Tim Hudson pitch caught Polanco's elbow in precisely the wrong spot, jostling loose some bone and tendon. He played through pain, received a cortisone shot, but the pain intensified until he could no longer bear it. From June 26 to July 17, he joined Chase Utley on the disabled list. When he returned, he put himself back in the hunt for a batting title with a nightly base hit or two. Unfortunately, time off didn't put him back at full strength. His last home run came July 22 in St. Louis - a two-and-a-half month power drought - and by September, every aspect of his game appeared to be cooked. He finished with a .298/.339/.386 (95 OPS+) slash line and was a late scratch for Game 1 of the Division Series. He underwent surgery to repair the elbow this winter.

That's basically how Ibanez's season looked in 2009 when he morphed into Babe Ruth for a couple of months then crashed back to earth. He even missed the same number of games, at exactly the same point in the season. He went under the knife to repair a sports hernia last December, but groin and abdominal problems appeared to linger into 2010. He started slowly, appeared to be coming around late on fastballs, then "leveled off," which is to say, settled into the up-and-down ride that Mariners fans came to expect from 10 seasons in Seattle. There were indeed stretches in '10 - albeit short stretches - when Ibanez carried the offense. There were also times when he never showed up to the park. He finished with a "pretty okay" sum-of-the-whole slash line of .275/.349/.444 (112 OPS+), which might be a fair measuring stick for this season's expectations.

They're different players, but their strengths and weaknesses offset, and I think it's fair to say they contribute equally given Ibanez's power and Polanco's glove, versatility and ability to make contact out of the two-hole. But are they exceptional anymore, the way players often must be in a title hunt, or just ordinary?

Extremely minor notes: Organizational infielder Ozzie Chavez has signed a minor league deal with the White Sox. He was with Reading and Lehigh Valley for the past two seasons. ... Rule 5 pick Michael Martinez went 1-for-3 in Game 1 of the Dominican Winter League Best of 9 series between Toros and Oriente. Wilson Valdez's squad was bounced from the postseason in the Round Robin tournament.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Kendrick or Durbin? A poll

Report: Kendrick avoids arbitration, signs for $2.45M

According a breaking report by SI.com's Jon Heyman, right-hander Kyle Kendrick has avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to one-year, $2.45 million deal with the Phillies, which will include performance bonuses.

Beerleaguer: For the sake of comparison, first-time arbitration eligible hurlers Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain received $2.7 million and $1.4 million, respectively, from the Yankees, John Lannan took home $2.75 million from the Nationals, Detroit right-hander Armando Galarraga got $2.35 million, Blue Jays hurler Brandon Morrow earned $2.3 million and Tampa Bay right-hander Andy Sonnanstine settled for 913K. In four seasons, Kendrick, considered the spring training favorite to emerge as the Phillies fifth starter if the club does indeed find a suitor for Joe Blanton, is 35-24 with a 4.69 ERA in 483 and 2-3 career innings, spanning four seasons. That's more wins and the second-most innings (second to Lannan) of any of the pitchers on this list, but a higher ERA than most of them.

All things considered, KK and the Phils settled on a reasonable figure. Someone had to win those games and shoulder the innings. Kendrick emerged from nowhere and helped bail them out in the summer pitching crisis of 2007. He's been up and down since then, yeah, but he held on for 31 starts (180 innings) last season. Pay the guy.

Rivals rounding out their rosters with noted pests

The Mets have announced the minor signing of veteran outfielder Willie Harris, marking the latest low-cost annoyance signed by an NL East squad.

The signing of Harris, 32, didn't exactly crash the Metsblog.com servers today, but he caught the attention of Beerleaguer on a slow news day. The veteran outfielder hit just .183/.291/.362 in 262 plate appearances with the Nats last season, but he's needled the Phillies from the left side over the years, posting a .858 career OPS against them, including a .400/.571/.720 opposing slash line in 2009. Last season he hit just .191 against the hometown nine, but mashed a pair of homers. On a related front, the Nationals have just acquired journeyman lefty Tom Gorzelanny from the Cubs for three prospects. Gorzelanny, 28, went 7-9 with a 4.09 ERA (106 ERA+) in 29 games (23 starts) for a lousy Cubs team. Once seen as a poor-man's ace in Pittsburgh, he should give the Nats a nice, veteran inning eater and a proven lefty at the bottom of their rotation. Lifetime, he's held the Phillies to a .239 average in three starts. In addition to Gorzelanny, and of course Jayson Werth, the Nationals also inked veteran first baseman Adam LaRoche last week. LaRoche, who hit .261/.320/.468 with 26 homers for Arizona, has dusted Phillies pitching over the years, hitting .304/.375/.525 with 11 homers and 35 RBIs in 243 plate appearances. Elsewhere in the division, the Marlins are hoping that cavernous Sun Life Stadium and the low pressure of pitching in Miami helps Javier Vazquez regain his form, particularly against the Phils, who he's faced more than any other team (185 1-3 innings). Vazquez joins a very poised Florida staff that should be one of the best in the league (although still a step behind the Phillies).

Nobody argues the hometown nine hold the upper hand in the division, but value signings like these, emerging talents and other divisional improvements will mean the Phillies will have their hands full this summer.

Francisco, Phillies reach agreement on $1.175M pact

Outfielder Ben Francisco has avoided arbitration by agreeing on a one-year contract, the Phillies announced this afternoon. The contract includes performance and awards bonuses.

(From Beerleaguer's news services) Francisco, 29, hit .268/.327/.441 with six homers and eight stolen bases in 197 plate appearances last season, ending the year strong while making only 28 starts total (17 in left, 10 in right and one in center field). As a pinch hitter, he hit .282 (11-39) with three doubles and seven RBIs. Acquired from the Indians in the six-player trade that included left-hander Cliff Lee, Francisco is a .263/.329/.446 career hitter. He is the leading candidate to pick up most of the playing time in right field following Jayson Werth's exodus. Kyle Kendrick is the Phillies' only other arbitration-eligible player and remains unsigned.

Phillies sign Matt Anderson to minor league deal

The 34-year-old right-hander was selected No. 1 overall by the Tigers in the 1997 draft. Devastating arm problems ruined his once-lightning 97-100 mph fastball and knocked him out of The Show in 2005.

In parts of seven seasons, Anderson pitched 246 2-3 innings out of the Detroit bullpen between 1998 and 2003 and became a free agent after the 2004 season. He was picked up by the Rockies in 2005 and spent most of that season with Triple-A Colorado Springs, appearing in 12 games for the Rox. Since then, he’s pitched in the minor and independent leagues on and off until the White Sox released him after 15 tries with their Triple-A club in 2008. A product of Rice University and the big fish of the 1997 draft, he’s 15-7 with a 5.19 ERA and 224/157 K/BB in seven big league seasons, all in relief. Beerleaguer: My father once owned a 1980 Gravely lawnmower he would maintain and restore on weekends just for jags and he could never get it to work properly. Anderson will become this type of hobby for the Phillies this summer.

Report: Phillies could take a flier on ex-Met Maine

The Phillies have reportedly expressed interest in right-hander John Maine, who was non-tendered by the Mets this offseason.

Beerleaguer: Too high risk for anything but a minor league deal, Maine's agent is undoubtedly holding out hope for something better considering the dearth of available starting pitching. The 29-year-old right-hander is a poster boy for the injury nightmare the Mets have sustained over the past few years, and to many observers, the Mets' malpractice of handling injured players. His hip was the first to go, in 2007, then the shoulder problems set in starting with a painful bone spur in 2008. The Mets attempted to have him suck it up, but it only made matters worse and he underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove a lesion from the back of shoulder after the season. Soreness carried into '09, and more pitching through pain. He was diagnosed with a pinched nerve and was allowed to finish out the season in relative comfort. Things appeared to be on the up-and-up, but the season was over before it ever got started. He made just nine starts with the Mets in '10 before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in July to remove scar tissue. Phillies' team physician Michael Ciccottti actually preformed the procedure and repaired a small tear. By then, the Mets' new regime was ready to wash their hands of it. Rather than head to arbitration, he was non-tendered in December.

Over seven seasons, he's 41-36 with a 4.35 ERA (98 +), with his best season coming in 2007 (15-10, 3.91 ERA, 180/75 K/BB ratio in 191 innings). He's pitched in just 141 innings the last two seasons, his career wrecked by injury.

The Phillies could have interest for several reasons. Practically speaking, they need bodies to fill out the rotation at Triple-A, where they aren't very deep with capable starters. Secondly, the Phillies always operate with the fear that what happened to the Mets could also happen to them. Pitchers routinely fall by the wayside midseason, with Jamie Moyer being the most recent example.

With the rotation set in its current approximation, there's no room for Maine, allowing him to gain back strength in the minor leagues. The problem, of course, is knowing what the Phillies would really get. At his very, very best, Maine was viewed as a No. 4, maybe a 3, but physically, it's hard to see it happening anymore.

To be honest, if he didn't pitch for New York, would anyone care about this guy? But on a Kris Benson-esque flier, he'd at least fill some column inches.

Wednesday: Francisco has the Phillies’ trust

On Monday, Phillies.com writer Todd Zolecki reported that GM Ruben Amaro Jr. and manager Charlie Manuel have spoken with Ben Francisco since the end of last season and “have expressed their confidence he can assert himself in the lineup, possibly hitting fifth behind Ryan Howard.”

Francisco, 29, is seen as the leading candidate to fill Jayson Werth’s void in right. “It is a small sample size, but Francisco finished 2010 strongly,” Zolecki writes. “He had an .889 OPS following the All-Star break, which ranked second on the team behind only Werth (.966). His recent production against left-handed pitching is why Amaro has hinted at a platoon. But Francisco is confident he can hit right-handed pitching if given the opportunity. In his career, he has hit .267 with a .347 on-base percentage and a .460 slugging percentage against left-handers, and .262 with a .323 on-base percentage and a .440 slugging percentage against right-handers. Put those numbers together and Francisco has a career .775 OPS, which would have ranked 36th out of 69 qualifying outfielders in baseball last season.“

Zolecki also noted that Shane Victorino and Werth needed to prove themselves as everyday players in 2006 and 2008, respectively, before the Phillies handed over the reins for good. Werth, like Francisco, was 29 when had his breakout season in 2008. Francisco has accepted a reduced role since arriving in Philadelphia. He logged 499 plate appearances and hit .266/.332/.438 with 15 home runs for Cleveland a season earlier - workman-like numbers for a big league outfielder.

The Phillies will also consider Domonic Brown and Ross Gload for a platoon with Francisco, but for that to happen, they would need to have big springs. Brown faded to the end of the bench late last season and has time to go back to the minors and continue his development, while Gload proved to be a poor defensive option in right in limited opportunities. John Mayberry Jr. is also in the mix, as is Rule 5 super utility man Michael Martinez. Mayberry hasn’t blossomed offensively like the Phillies have hoped, but his path to the majors could be as a back-up to Victorino in center field. Ideally, Mayberry’s arm and speed are suited for right, but he could be shoehorned into center, just as the Phils used to do with Werth. As it sets up today, Mayberry's glove is working in his favor for a shot to break camp and head north.

Surgically repaired Lidge found himself again in '10

Following the season from hell, elbow and knee surgery proved to be the difference in helping Brad Lidge turn out the lights in the ninth again.

That which doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. Brad Lidge knows it well. He rebounded from the house of horrors (0-8, 7.21, a Major League worst 11 blown saves) when a lesser closer would have never escaped the funhouse in his own head. Turns out, the physical pain was far worse than any mental anguish. Not only was he teetering on a bum knee, which everyone could see, he was also pitching through a torn flexor tendon in his elbow. He went under the knife to fix both ailments, which delayed his season by a month. By August, he was beginning to show signs of recovery and consistency, and by September, he was back to being lights out, punctuated by a trifecta of chilling saves in the Phillies’ sweep of Atlanta. He allowed two earned runs, total, over the final two months, holding hitters to a bewildered .131/.232/.155. He skinned his slider more than ever, using his money pitch over 60 percent of the time, a personal record, according to Fangraphs.com. A 2-mph dip in fastball velocity didn’t seem to matter since he was throwing strikes, getting ahead and working through his previous-season hang-up of seemingly melting down with men on base.

Even in his worst pre-Phillies seasons, Lidge has been a strikeout machine. He finished 2010 with a strong 10.2 K/9, but nothing close to the elite numbers from earlier in his career. Is this the new normal? Or will his career take another wild spin, up or down, like it has in previous seasons?

Phillies swap Escalona for Houston 2B: The Phillies have found a taker for Sergio Escalona, trading the left-hander to Houston for minor league second baseman Albert Cartwright.

Cartwright, 23, hit .294/.355/.472 with 10 home runs and 119 strikeouts between Class A and Double A last season, stealing 31 bags, while defensively committing 29 errors. His numbers took a drastic dive after his promotion to Double-A, where he hit only .229/.289/.271 in 154 plate appearances for Corpus Christi. Over his career, he has racked up 112 RBI and 71 stolen bases in 284 games. Although he is not considered a prospect, it's a fair trade-off for Escalona, who was designated for assignment by the Phillies this weekend. A right-handed hitter, Cartwright is a product of the Bahamas.

Incidently, toolsy shortstop Jonathan Villar, who was traded to Houston in the Roy Oswalt deal, was rated as the third-best prospect in Houston chain by Baseball America last week. The scouting magazine believes that Villar, 19, can develop into a Gold Glove-caliber shortstop some day.

Phillies designate Sergio Escalona for assignment

The 26-year-old left-hander becomes a roster casualtiy, clipped from the 40-man to clear room for the newly re-signed J.C. Romero.

Beerleaguer: Escalona shot up the ranks as a darkhorse bullpen candidate in spring of 2009 despite pitching in only a limited number of games above A-ball. Turns out, he was in the right place at the right time. He ended up appearing in 14 games for the lefty-needy Phillies that season (1-0, 4.61 ERA, 10/5 K/BB), taking the "Escalona Express" back and forth to Allentown six times. He appeared to have all the makings of a serviceable, low-leverage lefty, armed with a sneaky fastball and decent curve, and stepped into 2010 locked in a head-to-head battle with live-armed lefty Antonio Bastardo for the second lefty slot. Then his career to a sharp dive. He struggled with his cotrol in winter ball and fell out of the running before pitchers and catchers ever reported. He was assigned to Reading for the entire season, where he was pedestrian at best (4-8, 3.81 ERA, 53/22 K/BB, 54 1-3 innings). He's been even worse this winter in the Venezuelan Winter League, although he's been better lately. At 26, he picked a bad time fade into the background and was no longer considered a serious candidate to break back into the bigs. He'll land on his feet somewhere and could even get a chance to make someone's bullpen as a non-roster invitee.

Readers: New additions add little value to roster

Beerleaguers are skeptical as to whether Delwyn Young and Robb Quinlan offer much of an upgrade over existing options.

Quinlan is cooked: "Quinlan is done being a useful MLB player. He stinks in the field and was simply overpowered at the plate last year. Really hasn't been a good offensive player for the past three years now. Strictly minor league depth at this point. Young is at least an interesting plate who can provide some value in a limited call. There is no way though I want to see him getting regular time though in RF. Young plays a bunch of positions, but badly too. He is a poor 2B/RF but he is a passable option in LF. Legit chance to win the last roster spot with a good performance in spring training." - MG

Young provides marginal value: "Delwyn Young is a rich man's Michael Martinez. Seriously, though, as MG noted on the last thread, Delwyn Young is a bad fielder. But being a bad fielder at 5 or 6 positions has value. He's also a case of a guy who would be more valuable if he had a big offensive split. But his splits are just about dead-even, .708 OPS vs. LHP and .710 vs. RHP." - clout

"Delwyn Young is an interesting player, a versatile guy with surprising pop who can play the corner OF positions and 2B or 3B in a pinch. However, he strikes out a lot and hasn't shown the ability to hit for a high enough average (considering he doesn't walk a lot) to make it as an everyday player. He's not the worst player in the world though to invite to camp. I think there could be some value there if he showed he could field the infield positions with enough capability. As a 5th OF, though, he just doesn't provide enough with the stick I would think to make the squad, unless they start Brown in AAA and don't bring anyone else in." - Jack

Notes: In light of today's announcements, Randy Miller of the Bucks County Courier-Times spoke with Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr., who said he's probably in a position now to go ahead with the people he has … "and let some people battle it out." Amaro suggested to Miller that John Mayberry, Ben Francisco, Ross Gload, Quinlan and Young are guys that will be in the mix. (via Twitter)

Breaking news: Romero passes physical, deal done

Multiple outlets are reporting that J.C. Romero is officially a Phillie again after finalizing a one-year, $1.35 million pact to remain in the bullpen for another season. Romero, 34, pitched to a 3.68 ERA in 2010 while battling control problems. He stands to earn as much as $1.75 million through performance bonuses. This will be his fifth season with the club.

Breaking news: Phillies sign OF Young, INF Quinlan

The Phillies have announced a second wave of non-roster spring invitees, a list that includes veteran outfielder Delwyn Young and corner infielder Robb Quinlan. Here's a brief look at Young and Quinlan (from the Phillies press office, via Matt Gelb of the Inquirer.)

Delwyn Young, INF/OF: Young, 28, spent last season with the Pirates where he hit .236/.286/.414 with seven home runs and 28 RBI in 110 games. A switch-hitting native of Los Angeles, who finished third in the majors with 16 pinch hits in 2010, started games in right field, third base and second base for Pittsburgh. For his major league career, Young is a career .258/.317/.393 hitter with 17 home runs and 81 RBIs over five seasons for the Los Angeles Dodgers (2006-08) and Pirates (2009-10).

Robb Quinlan, INF: Quinlan, 33, split last season between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Salt Lake. He appeared in 23 games and made six starts (five at first base, one as designated hitter) for the Angels after making their Opening Day roster. For his major league career, which spans eight seasons (2003-10), all with the Angels, Quinlan has hit .276/.322/.401 with 25 home runs in 458 games, seeing most of his on-field action at first base.

The Phillies have also issued spring invites to veteran right-handed reliever Brian Bass, who singed a minor league deal earlier this winter, organizational catchers Tuffy Gosewisch and Joel Naughton and right-handed relievers Michael Schwimer and Michael Stutes.

Beerleaguer: I'll prove a complete breakdown later today. My initial take is that Young and Quinlan offer quality depth at a bargain price. For Quinlan, it's a golden opportunity to reinvent himself as a National League pinch hitter. As for Young, he gives the Phillies a much-needed option in case they feel Domonic Brown needs more seasoning. The competition for the final bench spot will be fierce.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Valdez hitting .438

Last night in the Dominican Republic, Wilson Valdez continued his torrid winter with a 3-for-3 effort in the Gigantes' loss to Estrellas.

Valdez, who has been playing shortstop, doubled and continued to hit second for a Cibao club that featured Phillies minor league utility outfielder Rich Thompson hitting third and former Beerleaguer talking point Pedro Feliz batting sixth. On the opposite side, Rule 5 pick Michael Martinez did not play for Estrellas. Bearing in mind there’s only so much one can glean from a box score, Martinez seems to be hitting just fine, but has committed an unhealthy share of errors. He's been playing short this winter, but can field any position. ... In Mexico, catching prospect Sebastian Valle went 0-for-3 in Mochis' Game 3 loss to Guasave. He played left again. … In other news, an Inquirer source said the Phillies have made a formal offer to Chad Durbin and Durbin, who is entertaining outside offers but would prefer to stay in Philadelphia, has countered. The report suggests Durbin seeks more than the $2.125 million he made last season. Beerleaguer's official position is to fill Durbin's role internally.

Phillies notes: A look at what's ahead this winter

These are lean times to be a Phillies newshound. Here’s what you can expect over the coming days.

J.C. Romero is scheduled for his physical sometime this week. The Phillies agreed in principle on a one-year, incentive-laden deal with the veteran left-hander just before the holiday. If Romero flunks his physical, just as Dennys Reyes did, the Phillies will resort to plan 'C'. Interchangeable lefties Randy Flores, Joe Beimel, Tim Byrdak, Will Ohman and Ron Mahay are still around. … The Phillies are expected to continue shopping Joe Blanton, although there is no immediate urgency to move him. The Phils could wait until spring training in hopes that a team gets desperate with injury. … In the meantime, the Phillies are expected to dabble in the dwindling free agent market by looking to shore up areas like middle relief and a right-handed hitting outfielder cheaply. Players like Scott Hairston, Jerry Hairston Jr., Jose Guillen, Marcus Thames and the self-represented Jermaine Dye are available, but the Phillies could be content to stand pat. Former Phillie Taylor Buchholz, a reliever who might have interested them, was snatched up by the Mets yesterday, along with left-hander Chris Capuano (a pair of quality, value signings for the Mets ‘pen). … The Phillies invited 12 non-roster players to spring training earlier this off-season, including intriguing 25-man roster candidates like Jeff Larish and Dan Meyer. Look for a second wave of non-roster invites to be announced in the coming weeks, with several of those earmarked for young, up-and-comers.

Phillies re-sign reliever Gordon to minor league deal

Now that I have your attention, this is Brian Gordon, the outfielder-turned-pitcher who appeared in 40 games for the IronPigs last season, not Tom, who saved 42 games for the Phillies between 2006-08. [Link]

Gordon, 32, raised his stock with in an impressive campaign out of the IronPigs bullpen, going 1-3 with a 3.46 ERA and a formidable 86/19 K/BB ratio in 78 innings. Lehigh Valley beat writer Jeff Schuler, the first to break the news of Gordon’s re-signing, says the right-hander will join Nate Bump, Dane Sardinha and Rich Thompson as committed Lehigh Valley returnees for 2011 (I’ve seen Thompson’s name surface in the winter league box scores, but I forget where). Meanwhile, veterans Melvin Dorta, Ozzie Chavez, Beerleaguer favorite Brian Mazone, Ty Taubenheim, Alex Concepcion and Ehren Wassermann will not return, according to Schuler. Beerleaguer: Look for Gordon to get a few looks in spring training. As for Tom Gordon, he reportedly attended the Winter Meetings in hopes of pitching again. The 43-year-old last appeared in three games for the Diamondbacks in 2009.

Bolsenbroek profiled: Dutch farmhand Mike Bolsenbroek was profiled today on the international baseball site Mister-Baseball.com. The 23-year-old, 6-8 right-hander went 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA and 23/18 K/BB ratio in 32 innings last season for the Lakewood Blue Claws, joining the team midseason from extended spring training. A native of Apeldorn, Netherlands, he also pitched for the German Bundesliga champion Buchbinder Legionaere Regenburg squad, where he posted a 2.13 ERA in the playoffs.

Minors: Cliff Lee Three deserve a do-over in 2011

It's too early to write off Phillippe Aumont, Tyson Gillies and J.C. Ramirez, the prospects acquired in the 2009 Cliff Lee deal.

In keeping with the spirit of the season, started yesterday with our celebration of Jimmy Rollins, down on the farm, Aumont, Gillies and Ramirez can look forward to fresh starts as they get set for their second Phillies season. Brought to Philadelphia in a deal doomed as a bust even before they laced up their red cleats, their inaugural campaigns ranged from disappointment to disaster. As we turn the calendar page to '11, we're reminded of this important point: They're only 22 and have valid excuses for falling flat last season.

Ramirez, who had the best season of the bunch, pitched through a labrum tear in his hip. The hard-throwing right-hander underwent offseason surgery and will likely repeat at Double-A, where he went 3-4 with a 5.45 ERA and 60/24 K/BB ratio in 13 starts. Aumont, who spent the previous season as an unreliable A and AA closer, started the year in Reading's rotation, where it was quickly determined that he was in over his head (1-6, 7.43 ERA, 38/38 K/BB ratio in 49 2-3 innings). He was shipped down to Clearwater for the rest of the season and wasn't much better there. His future, it seems, will be in the bullpen. As for Gillies, who impressed Phillies officials with his energy during Spring Training, his season was ruined by an April hamstring injury and was limited to 26 games. Then in August, the outfielder was picked up by police alongside a busy highway in Clearwater, shirtless, wasted and, according to police, in possession of a bag of cocaine. He was later cleared of those charges.

Undoubtedly, they can't wait close the book on '10. Neither can the Phillies, who strongly believe the best is yet to come from the big arms of Ramirez and Aumont and the multiple tools of Gillies. They've fallen out of most prospect top 10s, which may not be the worst thing. Cliff Lee is back, expectations are low and their careers are still young.

New Year's resolution: 11 hoping '10 will be forgot

In the spirit of the season, a reader has urged me move on from Ryan Howard glancing away from strike three and onto some new business. I can think of no better subject than Jimmy Rollins, whose expiring contract will become one of the season's richest subplots.

Aside from watching the hometown nine march down Broad Street again, my individual hope for 2011 would be for Rollins and the Phillies to renew their vows once Rollins crosses the finish line of a 6-year, $46.5 million contract at the end of this season. But 2011 is everything, and at this stage, it's impossible to know which road he will take. Following a pair of down years, an All-Star reprisal seems just as probable as another .694 OPS dud. Motivated to finally receive market value as a free agent, he could catch his second wind. Or, he could decide that he's accomplished all that he set out to achieve (MVP, a title, a comfortable, secure life), and retire from the game altogether. After all, he's a natural in front of the cameras, and there's no doubt that television will be part of his next career. That's merely speculation, based on signs that Rollins, who was married last offseason, may not have had the same level of dedication we've seen in the past. Physically, he broke down almost immediately, lending fuel to rumors that the newlywed was out of shape in the spring.

Nevertheless, these things happen, and you move on. The same was said of Cole Hamels in 2009, and he responded with an incredibly focused effort in '10 that started even before pitchers and catchers reported to Clearwater.

There are dozens or reasons to be stoked about 2011. J-Roll should be right at the top of the list. He's a former MVP, a perennial gold glover and All-Star, a high-motor player and leader. This could be a new beginning, and the start of a renewed union in Philadelphia.