Nov. 16 -- UP AND ADAM?

So, with the hot stove blazing with rumors about Mike Lowell and Aaron Rowand, the Phillies can't stop talking about pitching. For the 800th time in the past month, Pat Gillick and Ruben Amaro Jr. reiterated yesterday that the Phillies are still prioritizing upgrading their pitching staff, even though they've already traded for closer Brad Lidge and returned Brett Myers to a starting role.

As the old saying goes, you never can have enough pitching ...

... especially when Adam Eaton is in your rotation.

OK, so that's not exactly how the old saying goes, but you get my point. It's been nearly a year since the Phillies signed Eaton to a three-year, $24.5 million contract, and last season, he was an unmitigated disappointment, going 10-10 with a 6.29 ERA and no quality starts after July 3. Everyone chuckled in August when he went on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. The prevailing thought was that a shoulder injury was a convenient way to get Eaton -- and his bloated ERA -- off the mound.

But maybe, just maybe, the injury was more serious than everybody thought.

Recently, I spoke on the phone with Eaton, and while he was careful to not make excuses for his wretched season, the $24.5 Million Man admitted he pitched through shoulder discomfort. "Things were bothering me most of the season that no one knew about," Eaton told me. In fact, he's so concerned about his shoulder that last month he requested an appointment with noted surgeon Dr. Lewis Yocum. Eaton underwent an MRI exam that Gillick said revealed "normal wear and tear," and Yocum and Phillies physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti concurred that Eaton doesn't need surgery. At least not yet. Eaton has begun a rehabilitation program, and the Phils are hopeful that he'll be ready to pitch at full strength by spring training.

Just in case, though, they're shopping for a back-of-the-rotation starter. They've expressed interest in Japanese right-hander Hiroki Kuroda, and Amaro said they've contacted agents for several other pitchers. With about $10-12 million left to spend before they reach their projected $105 million payroll, the Phils will gauge whether they can re-sign Rowand or upgrade at third base only after they address their remaining pitching needs.

But I can't stop thinking that if Eaton were healthy and effective last season, they may feel like those needs already have been met.

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Believe it or not, Jon Lieber's tenure with the Phillies may not be over. Rex Gary, the agent who represents Lieber and Lidge, said yesterday that the door may not be completely shut on Lieber re-signing with the Phillies. Amaro also wouldn't totally rule out the possibility either. And while I still believe it's a long shot, I think the Phillies would consider bringing Lieber back if the 37-year-old right-hander is willing to accept a one-year deal with a low base salary and performance bonuses. Gary wouldn't discuss Lieber's demands.

"I know he's not happy, at this point in his career, with how things ended last year," Gary said, referring to Lieber's season-ending foot surgery in July. "He wants to show somebody, wherever it is, that he's the pitcher he was when the Phillies signed him three years ago."

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Talked baseball the other day with Harry Mayes and Jamie Yannacone (a.k.a., the 700 Level Fanatics) on Sports Radio 950. Download the podcast here.

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Oh, and Scott Rolen returning to the Phillies? Don't bet on it. They'd have a better chance of landing Barry Bonds.