Dec. 30 -- HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The clock is ticking toward 2008, so I wanted to take a few minutes and wish y'all a happy, safe New Year. And, since it's been a predictably light week around baseball, I thought I'd freshen up The Blog with a few thoughts that have been rattling around in my head for the past few days.

1. Funny story out of Boston: Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon is insisting the baseball he used to record the final out of the World Series was torn apart by his dog. Sounds like something Brett Myers might say, doesn't it? Oh, wait, Myers is a starter again. I agreed with the Phillies' decision to put Myers back in the rotation, an idea I began kicking around in print in August after glancing at the list of free agents. But it's impossible to deny that Myers has the high-energy personality and temperament of the stereotypical closer. So, if Brad Lidge doesn't recover his dominant form of 2005, or if Myers doesn't win 18-20 games, would it really surprise you to see Myers back in the closer role in 2009?

2. The Mets' search for pitching apparently has led them to Jon Lieber.

3. Give the Phillies credit for swiftly and adequately replacing Aaron Rowand with Geoff Jenkins and So Taguchi. Certainly, any lineup that looks like this -- 1. Jimmy Rollins, SS; 2. Shane Victorino/Taguchi, CF; 3. Chase Utley, 2B; 4. Ryan Howard, 1B; 5. Pat Burrell, LF; 6. Jenkins/Jayson Werth, RF; 7. Greg Dobbs/Wes Helms, 3B; 8. Carlos Ruiz/Chris Coste, C -- is capable of flirting with 900 runs. But, before anyone re-anoints the Phils as NL East champs, they absolutely must add at least one pitcher before spring training. Akinori Otsuka, anyone? Anyone? The guy had 32 saves and a 2.11 ERA in 2006, then posted a 2.51 ERA in 2007 despite elbow problems that KO'd him for the final three months of the season. So, unless Otsuka's elbow is in a state of terrible disrepair, he'd be a nice gamble for a pitching-needy team like, say, the Phillies, wouldn't he?

4. Here's hoping Goose Gossage, Jim Rice and Bert Blyleven find their way into the Hall of Fame. They deserve to be there, and they shouldn't have had to wait this long. That reminds me of something Gary Carter asked me in 2002, when it began looking like he'd get into Cooperstown after many years of falling short. He wondered how the HOF candidacy of a player who has been retired for more than a decade can suddenly improve. I explained that it has nothing to do with the player. It simply means enough voting members of the Baseball Writers Association of America changed their minds -- or, perhaps, did more research on a particular player and believe more strongly in his HOF worthiness.

5. 46 days until pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater.

Happy New Year, everyone.

Dec. 23 -- TAGUCHI SIGNS

Aaron who?

Less than two weeks after Aaron Rowand defected to San Francisco for five years and $60 million, the Phillies have re-stocked their outfield and seemingly set their bench by signing free agent Geoff Jenkins last week and adding So Taguchi today.

Taguchi, 38, agreed to a one-year, $1.05 million contract with a club option for 2009. Just talked to assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr., who said Taguchi will be used similarly to Michael Bourn last season. Translation: Taguchi will give the Phillies a late-game defensive replacement for left fielder Pat Burrell and insurance against injury to center fielder Shane Victorino. He also will provide a right-handed bat off the bench, a role he performed well for the St. Louis Cardinals.

As a pinch-hitter last season, Taguchi batted .406 (13-for-32). He also batted .323 (21-for-65) with runners in scoring position. Overall, Taguchi batted .290 with three home runs and 30 RBIs in 130 games and played all three outfield positions.

"We like the versatility that he adds," Amaro said by phone. "He's a plus defender across the board in the outfield -- left, center and right. He's had what you'd call surprising offensive numbers especially last year as far as being a bench player and such. He kind of flies under the radar a little bit, but he's a solid offensive player."

With Burrell, Victorino, Jenkins, Jayson Werth and Taguchi, the Phillies' outfield is set. Assuming they keep 12 pitchers, their five-man bench with include backup catcher Chris Coste, utility infielder Eric Bruntlett, Taguchi, either Werth or Jenkins and either Greg Dobbs or Wes Helms, depending on who starts at right field or third base.

So, let's hear it: Is there a better group of position players in the NL than this group of Phillies?

Catchers (2): Carlos Ruiz, Chris Coste
Infielders (6): Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Greg Dobbs, Wes Helms, Eric Bruntlett
Outfielders (5): Pat Burrell, Shane Victorino, Geoff Jenkins, Jayson Werth, So Taguchi

Dec. 23 -- CATCHING UP

Finally back from a great week in Europe. If you're ever thinking about visiting Munich, Prague or Zurich, I highly recommend all three. Went over there with my college roommate, and we ate plenty of this, drank plenty of this and found ourselves gawking at beautiful buildings like this. Overall, an amazing experience.

Now that I'm home, though, there's lots of catching up to do. So, on a meaningless Sunday for the Eagles, I wanted to run down a few Phillies-related items that slipped through the cracks.

* In my Sunday baseball notes last week, I included a few comments from a scout for an AL team who wasn't exactly wowed by Phillies pitching prospects Joe Savery and Josh Outman. He thinks they'll both pitch in the majors. Maybe not until 2009, though, which jives with what the Phillies have been saying.

* Today's edition of the Sunday notes makes the claim that Geoff Jenkins may be a more-than-adequate replacement for Aaron Rowand. Agree? Disagree?

* Savery and Outman lead a group of 19 players who aren't on the Phillies' 40-man roster that have been invited to major-league spring training. The others are: pitchers Carlos Carrasco, Ron Chiavacci, Vic Darensbourg, Gary Knotts and Brian Mazone, catchers Tuffy Gosewisch, Tim Gradoville, Paul Hoover and Lou Marson, first baseman Mike Cervenek, shortstop Jason Donald, third baseman Brennan King, utility infielder Casey Smith and Andy Tracy and outfielders Greg Golson, Valentino Pascucci and Brandon Watson. Keep an eye on Watson. Last season, he set an International League (triple-A) record by hitting in 43 straight games.

* The Phillies will face new triple-A affiliate Lehigh Valley in an exhibition at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown at 2:05 p.m. on March 30, one day before opening the season against Washington at the Bank. For ticket information, call the IronPigs' ticket department at 610-435-3001 or go to www.ironpigsbaseball.com.

* Kyle Kendrick and Chris Coste will be guests at the Williamsport Crosscutters' annual hot stove dinner Jan. 17 at the Genetti Hotel. Call 570-326-3389 for tickets.

As usual, this figures to be a quiet week in baseball. So, in addition to wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, I'll throw out these questions for y'all to bat around: How much attention have you paid to the Mitchell Report, and have the details of the investigation changed the way you look at baseball?

Dec. 20 -- PHILS SIGN JENKINS AND (ANOTHER) DURBIN

So, I'm preparing for a final night of vacation here in Munich, Germany (I fly home tomorrow), but I wanted to pass along a long-distance "this-just-in" from the Phillies ...

Geoff Jenkins and Chad Durbin have agreed to contracts and will be introduced to the media in a few hours at the Bank. Obviously, I won't be there. But we'll have you covered in the 50-center tomorrow anyway, and I'll be back with something in the Sunday MLB notes.

Clearly, Jenkins addresses the Phillies' need for another outfielder in the aftermath of Aaron Rowand's departure to the Giants last week. Jenkins, who signed a two-year, $13 million deal with an option that could increase the total value to approximately $20 million, is a left-handed hitter with some power, and he will platoon with Jayson Werth in right field and give Pat Burrell occasional rest in left. In 420 at-bats last season for Milwaukee, Jenkins hit 21 homers and drove in 64 runs. His best season came in 2000 when he batted .303 with 34 home runs and 94 RBIs. Earlier this offseason, GM Pat Gillick said it would be "a stretch" for the Phils to go into 2008 with Burrell, Shane Victorino, Werth and little else in their outfield. But with Jenkins and Chris Snelling added to the mix, they seem well set.

Durbin (no relation to J.D. Durbin) may provide depth to the rotation and can also pitch out of the bullpen. He signed a one-year deal, so signing Durbin doesn't necessarily prevent the Phillies from signing another pitcher, perhaps Kris Benson. Personally, I think the Phillies still need more pitching, although I'm not sure where they'll find it.

As I said, I'll have more once I return. Thanks to Matt In Philadelphia, Rob and everyone else for keeping this thing going with opinionated -- and informative -- comments in my absence. For now, I'll present this offensive comparison of the 162-game averages from Rowand's and Jenkins' careers and ask you, are the Phillies better off now than they were last season?

Rowand: 508 AB, 80 R, 145 H, 32 2B, 2 3B, 18 HR, 66 RBI, 31 BB, 96 K, .286 AVG, .343 OBP, .462 SLG
Jenkins: 579 AB, 87 R, 160 H, 38 2B, 3 3B, 28 HR, 92 RBI, 52 BB, 147 K, .277 AVG, .347 OBP, .496 SLG

Dec. 13 -- THE MITCHELL REPORT -- AND A REQUEST

So, former Senate majority leader George Mitchell has released his long-awaited report, a 409-page opus that names no less than 77 players who are linked to steroids and performance-enhancing drugs.

Well, what more do we know?

I've skimmed the report (it may take a while to read it completely), and many of the players (Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, Miguel Tejada, Troy Glaus, Gary Matthews Jr., Jose Guillen, Rick Ankiel and even Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte) are guys that have been suspected users for quite a while. Locally, David Bell's possible involvement with performance-enhancers was reported several months ago by SI.com. Many of the other former Phillies that were named (Lenny Dykstra, Jason Grimsley, Ryan Franklin, Benito Santiago, Todd Pratt, Gary Bennett, Bobby Estalella and Paul Byrd) also have been previously linked to drug use.

What's interesting, of course, is the detail with which Mitchell describes the steroid use. Clemens is mentioned 82 times, and there's testimony from the person who allegedly shot him up with steroids. That's the stuff that's bound to catch people's attention, and the Rocket certainly has some explaining to do.

But will the Mitchell Report send shockwaves through the game? What will the long-term effect be? As I wrote last Sunday, I'm not sure it's going to have much long-term impact.

*

For the next week, I will be on vacation, traveling far, far away from Citizens Bank Park. So, I'll be counting on y'all to keep The Blog fresh and lively. As I've written here before, it's your comments and interest that make this all worthwhile. Without you, I'd just be rambling about the Phillies to nobody in particular.

It's in that spirit that I'll leave you with a few questions. I'm eager for your responses.

1. So, Aaron Rowand is gone. What should the Phillies do to replace him?

2. If Kris Benson's workout goes well Monday, should the Phils sign him? For how much?

3. Who should be the Phils' opening-day third baseman?

4. Should the Phillies negotiate a long-term extension for Ryan Howard? Or, should they wait another year to see if he can cut his strikeout total?

5. Given their offseason so far, are you confident the Phils can repeat as division champs? Why? Why not?

Dec. 13 -- NON-TENDERS

Hate to distract from the thoughtful Aaron Rowand-related debate ongoing in the previous post (as usual, great comments from Matt In Philadelphia, Rob, Zippy and others), but I wanted to pass along the list of "non-tenders," players who became free agents when their teams didn't offer 2008 contracts by last night's midnight deadline.

Of particular interest to me (and possibly the Phillies) are Mark Prior, Akinori Otsuka and Jason Lane. Prior and Otsuka, of course, are recovering from arm injuries. Lane, a right-handed-hitting outfielder, swatted 26 homers in 2005 for Houston. The Phils have lukewarm interest in third baseman Morgan Ensberg and no interest in outfielder and Newark native Kevin Mench.

Starters: Jack Cassel (San Diego), Matt DeSalvo (Yankees), Chad Durbin (Detroit), Mark Hendrickson (Dodgers), Mike O'Connor (Washington), Mark Prior (Cubs), Darrell Rasner (Yankees), Josh Towers (Toronto)
Relievers: T.J. Beam (Yankees), Kiko Calero (Oakland), Darren Clarke (Colorado), Brendan Donnelly (Boston), Cory Doyne (Baltimore), Jose Garcia (Oakland), Ryan Ketchner (San Diego), Scott Munter (San Francisco), Roberto Novoa (Baltimore), Akinori Otsuka (Texas), Juan Padilla (Mets), John Parrish (Seattle), Heath Phillips (White Sox), Brian Rogers (Pittsburgh), Brad Salmon (Cincinnati), Matt Wise (Milwaukee)
Catchers: Johnny Estrada (Mets), Miguel Olivo (Florida)
First basemen: Brad Eldred (Pittsburgh)
Second basemen: Aaron Miles (St. Louis)
Third basemen: Morgan Ensberg (San Diego), Andy Gonzalez (White Sox), Dallas McPherson (Angels)
Shortstops: Adam Everett (Houston), Jerry Gill (Cincinnati)
Outfielders: Sean Barker (Colorado), Emil Brown (Kansas City), Nick Gorneault (Texas), Willie Harris (Atlanta), Ben Johnson (Mets), Jason Lane (San Diego), Nook Logan (Washington), Kevin Mench (Milwaukee), Bronson Sardinha (Yankees), Jason Tyner (Minnesota).

Dec. 12 -- ROWAND SIGNS WITH GIANTS

Aaron Rowand got his five-year contract.

Much more on this in tomorrow's 50-center, but as I've written here, Rowand agreed today to a five-year, $60 million contract with the Giants. The Phillies are left with Pat Burrell, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth in their outfield. They will receive two compensatory draft picks in exchange for losing Rowand, a Type A free agent.

In a conference call a few moments ago, Rowand said he was involved in serious negotiations with at least four teams and said the offers were "similar." It's believed the Phillies were willing to pay $13 million annually to keep Rowand, but they would guarantee only three years with a vesting option for a fourth. Last week, it appeared Rowand's options were dwindling. Phillies GM Pat Gillick called it a "long shot" that Rowand would return, and the White Sox, Dodgers and several other potential suitors refused to offer a five-year contract to Rowand, who is a daredevil in center field.

The Giants had no such fears.

"It was obviously very important in my decision process," Rowand said during the conference call. "I've been traded [in 2005 by the White Sox] and not had another contract option offered to me [last year by the Phillies]. Every player tries to get into a place long-term where you can not only feel comfortable, but also be able to get involved in the community and the charities and do a lot of things I did in chicago before i got traded.

"Bottom line was I wanted to get into a place and situation where I knew I wasn't going to be there short-term and bounce around from one organization to another. You know in today's day and age, that's kind of the commonplace. I was never a fan of that. If I felt like I was going to be there the rest of my career, that was the thing I was looking forward to most."

The Giants finished last in the NL West last season with a 71-91 record.

More later.

Dec. 12 -- SAYONARA

So, neither Tadahito Iguchi nor Kosuke Fukudome will be Phillies in 2008.

In the latest chapter of "Who Won't Be Coming To Philly," Iguchi has signed a one-year contract to play second base for the Padres and Fukudome will make his major-league debut in center field for the Cubs. The Phillies weren't a serious player for Fukudome, who narrowed his choices to Chicago and San Diego after finally deciding to come over from Japan. But both the Phils and Iguchi wanted to strike a deal that would've made Iguchi the third baseman, sent Greg Dobbs back to a pinch-hitting role for which he's well-suited and placed Wes Helms firmly on the trade block.

It didn't happen, thanks in large part to a tricky MLB rule.

As I wrote ad nauseum last week from Nashville, when Iguchi left Japan to sign with the White Sox before the 2005 season, his contract stipulated that he be allowed to become a free agent after three years instead of the usual six, essentially bypassing arbitration. For that to happen, the White Sox had to either re-sign or release him after 2007. The Phils inherited that contract when they traded for Iguchi on July 27, so after the season, in compliance with his contract, they released Iguchi, who wanted to test the free-agent market.

Anyway, Iguchi didn't find many teams willing to give him a multiyear contract to play second base. So, last week, his agent Rocky Hall told the Phillies over a few scoops of Haagen-Dasz that Iguchi was willing to play third if they offered him a multiyear deal. The Phillies happily offered two years with an option, but there was no way to circumvent an MLB rule that prohibits a player who was released after the season to re-sign with the team that released him until May 15. Iguchi was unwilling to play in triple-A for the season's first six weeks, so the deal fell apart.

Now what? Having failed to lure Mike Lowell or Iguchi, the Phillies can stick with a Helms/Dobbs platoon at third base. They have little interest in trading for Brandon Inge, as long as the Tigers aren't willing to pick up most of the $19.1 million left on his contract. Morgan Ensberg isn't expected to be tendered a contract by the Padres, but the Phillies' interest in lukewarm. Free-agent Pedro Feliz remains a possibility, although several people in the organization aren't keen on Feliz or his .288 on-base percentage from last season.

So, who's on third? Stay tuned.

Dec. 12 -- LEFT OUT

Having already been relegated to a part-time role last season, Kevin Mench found out this week that the Brewers aren't interested in keeping him around at all.

So much for holiday cheer.

Mench was designated for assignment Monday, his 40-man roster spot given to newly acquired reliever Salomon Torres. And Milwaukee won't tender a 2008 contract to Mench before tonight's deadline, effectively signaling his release. So, Delaware's favorite son will be shopping for more than presents over the next two weeks. He'll be looking for a job.

There's nothing for him in Philly.

Even though the Phillies are looking for an outfielder in anticipation of Aaron Rowand's imminent departure (they're interested in Pittsburgh's lefty-hitting Nate McLouth), a team source said yesterday that they have "no interest" in Mench, who would love to play at the Bank. He's a huge Eagles fan (note the tattoo on his arm), and his mom has described him as "just a blue-collar Philly kid."

But Mench's stock has dropped faster than Enron since the 2005 season. After back-to-back seasons with 26 and 25 homers for the Rangers, Mench got traded to Milwaukee in the six-player Carlos Lee deal midway through 2006. As his salary has risen (he made $3.4 million through arbitration last season), his production has fallen. Last season, he hit only eight home runs and got fewer at-bats (288) than he's had since 2003. After July 27, he batted .216 with two homers and nine RBIs, and he started only five games in September. And since he can't make less than $3.4 million in his next round of arbitration, the Brewers couldn't find any takers when they tried to trade him last week at the winter meetings in Nashville.

The guess here is Mench signs with the offense-starved Giants, who will need every bat they can get to help replace Barry Bonds. Even if they're able to trade a pitcher (Tim Linecum, Matt Cain or Noah Lowry) for a premier offensive player, they'll likely stock up on players like Mench to fill out their lineup.

*
If you have $985,000 burning a hole in your wallet, you can buy Rowand's house in Garnet Valley, Pa., which is officially on the market. According to the real-estate listing, the 6,750-square-foot colonial has six bedrooms, four bathrooms and a conservatory. Sounds just like my house.

Dec. 9 -- SCOUTING REPORT: TRAVIS BLACKLEY

Got this e-mail from old friend Doug Greenwald, the spectacular radio voice of the Fresno Grizzlies, the Giants' triple-A affiliate. He had this to say about Travis Blackley, the left-hander taken by the Phillies in the Rule 5 draft:

"Yes, he has battled shoulder problems but has been healthy the last two years. Got traded April 1 from Seattle to San Francisco, and when told of the trade, he thought it was an April Fools joke. Fastball tops out in the upper-80s. Velocity used to be in the low-90s, but because of shoulder, MPH is a little slow. Good slider and change-up. Excellent pick-off move. Had somewhere in the neighborhood of eight pick-offs last season for Fresno. A workhorse. Normally good for 6 to 7 innings per start. Good hitter. Was excited to come to the NL last year so he could hit. It's something he enjoyed when playing on a 10-man club team in Australia while in high school."

*
Mentioned last week that the Phils re-signed minor league outfielder Jake Blalock. Here's a full list of 13 minor leaguers they signed: right-handers Jason Anderson, Matt Childers, Justin Pope and Kris Wilson; left-hander R.J. Swindle; infielders Gookie Dawkins, Joey Hammond and Juan Tejeda; outfielders Blalock, Branden Florence and Mike Spidale; catchers Orlando Guevara and John Suomi.

Dec. 9 -- MAKING A PITCH

So, what did we learn last week at the winter meetings? Pitching is in high demand. Very high.

But we already knew that, didn't we?

Every team is looking for pitching, and anyone crazy enough to trade it wants major-league-ready prospects. There are no bargains in the free-agent pool, which, for a third straight year, is ridiculously weak. There wasn't even much buzz in the lobby about Carlos Silva or Kyle Lohse. I heard more about injury reclamation projects Kris Benson and Glendon Rusch, who likely will sign one-year, incentive-laden contracts.

In The News Journal's Sunday MLB notes, I examined why there's such a supply-and-demand problem for pitching. Several people, including Rockies scout (and Milford, Del., resident) Will George, hypothesized that the best pitchers are getting long-term contract extensions before they can hit the free-agent market. The Cubs locked up Carlos Zambrano over the summer. The Phillies locked up Brett Myers last winter. The Padres are working on a deal for Jake Peavy, and the Rockies are close to an agreement with Aaron Cook. Chances are, the Phillies will discuss extending Cole Hamels after the 2008 season.

The moral of the story: If you're looking for pitching, the best place to turn is your own farm system. So, the Phillies can pursue short-term options like Benson, but they better hope Carlos Carrasco, Joe Savery and Josh Outman continue to develop and Kyle Drabek recovers from Tommy John surgery. Going forward, those pitchers may be their best hopes.

*
As expected, Aaron Rowand didn't accept salary arbitration. If he had, he would've been considered a signed player for 2008. Rowand may not get the five-year contract he's looking for, but he'll certainly get more than a one-year deal. And, coming off a career season, his value never will be higher than it is right now.

*
Spoke with a White Sox executive and asked what they were going to do about third base. He said the situation hasn't been resolved. It's conceivable Chicago could take Joe Crede and Josh Fields to spring training and trade one before the season starts, but you know the asking price will be high. Or, they could move Fields to left field and keep Crede at third. "It's a good problem to have," the executive said.

*
Just a hunch, but I think the release of the Mitchell Report this week (probably Thursday) will be a good thing for baseball. Anyone agree with me? Anyone care?

Dec. 6 -- DAY 4: THAT'S A WRAP

NASHVILLE -- Got a few minutes before I head to the airport to catch US Air 3834 to Philly, so I wanted to pass along a few items and put a bow on these meetings.

* Having bowed out of the Hiroki Kuroda sweepstakes and resisted the urge to trade prospects for underwhelming pitchers, the Phillies will turn their attention to right-hander Kris Benson and other reclamation projects. Benson, as you know, will throw Dec. 17 in Arizona to prove he's healthy after missing last season with a torn rotator cuff. Kicking myself for forgetting to squeeze this into the 50-center yesterday, but the Phillies have mild interest in Glendon Rusch. I say "mild" because they offered Rusch a minor-league contract, and he told them wants a major-league deal. He also wants a guarantee that he'll be in the rotation. Hard to give that to a guy who hasn't pitched since 2006 because of a blood clot in his lung.

* Heard a rumor that the Phillies have been told there's "no chance" that they can obtain a waiver to re-sign Tadahito Iguchi. So, unless Iguchi is willing to play at triple-A Lehigh Valley (his agent says that hasn't been discussed), he'll have to find work elsewhere. Speaking of third base, I'm hearing the Phillies' interest in Morgan Ensberg is lukewarm, at best.

* Although GM Pat Gillick said yesterday that Aaron Rowand's insistence on a five-year contract makes his return a "long shot," the market may have changed with Andruw Jones' two-year, $36.2 million deal with the Dodgers. Rowand may find teams willing to give him more money annually, but he isn't likely to find many willing to go five years, unless he wants to play for non-contending Kansas City.

The Phillies' contingent has left, and it's almost time for me to do the same. Since I'll be away from my computer for the rest of the day, I'll leave you with these questions:

1. After four frustrating days in Music City, how confident are you that the Phillies can fill their needs in the two months before spring training starts?

2. Given the NL East subtractions over the past few days (Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis in Florida, Andruw Jones in Atlanta) and the Mets' inactivity thus far, are you more or less confident than you were a week ago that the Phillies can defend their division title?

Dec. 6 -- RULE 5 RESULTS

NASHVILLE -- Who said the Phillies couldn't find pitching at the winter meetings?

As expected, the Phils made a few picks in this morning's Rule 5 draft. And they believe one of them, left-hander Travis Blackley, could have an impact on their starting rotation in 2008.

Blackley, a 25-year-old from Australia, went 10-8 with a 4.66 ERA last season for triple-A Fresno in the Giants' farm system. On Sept. 23, he won his first major-league start since July 31, 2004, allowing two runs in five innings against the Reds. Back in 2004, when he was with the Mariners' organization, Baseball America ranked him as the 63rd-best prospect in all of baseball.

So, why was he available in the Rule 5 draft?

Well, Blackley missed the 2005 season and was unable to pitch for Australia in the World Baseball Classic in 2006 after having left shoulder surgery. Many scouts say his velocity has dipped (the Phillies say his fastball ranges from 88 to 91 mph), which may have prompted his inclusion in an April trade to the Giants for outfielder Jason Ellison. But the Phillies believe he'll have success if he continues to exhibit good command.

Oh, and a quick Internet search shows he's married to model Arynne Tiller, who has done some work for Playboy.

"We feel like he's a guy that's got a chance to compete for that fifth starter job," assistant GM Mike Arbuckle said. "We think he's still on the upswing from [the surgery]. He continues to get a little better. He's a command-type left-hander. Average fastball. Pretty good changeup. Pretty good breaking ball. Good feel for pitching. He's definitely a guy that's going to have a chance to compete for a job on the club. If he doesn't end up as a fifth starter, his stuff would allow him to pitch out of the middle [of the bullpen]."

The Phillies also picked right-hander Lincoln Holdzcom, a 25-year-old who went 5-1 with a 2.97 ERA in 42 games last season between triple-A Pawtucket and double-A Portland. In the minor-league portion of the Rule 5 draft, they selected 25-year-old third baseman Patrick Sellers from the Astros and 27-year-old second baseman Luke Appert from the Athletics.

Time to take a few final spins through the lobby before writing and catching a flight. I'll try to have something for you later this afternoon before I leave.

*
Also, a word about the Erik Bedard for Kyle Kendrick and Shane Victorino trade rumor that has been reported elsewhere: Not going to happen. Absolutely not. No chance. I repeat: Forget it. The Phils haven't even discussed Bedard at the winter meetings. Not since they were told by the Orioles that they don't have a package of prospects that would be good enough. One Phillies person told me yesterday that trading for Bedard or Dan Haren would "clean out our farm system." And, even then, the Phils don't think they'd have enough.

Dec. 6 -- DAY 4: ALMOST FINISHED

NASHVILLE -- Good morning, all. Only a few more hours left at the winter meetings, which conclude today after the Rule 5 draft (more on that later). Once the draft ends, it'll be like a jailbreak, with folks fleeing for the airport. Me? I'm flying home tonight. Hopefully, there's no more snow.

So, I wrote this whole story last night on the Phillies' increasingly frustrating search for pitching that appears in today's 50-center. And, after a late dinner, I took one last spin through the lobby and found out something interesting.

Carlos Silva wants to pitch for the Phillies -- again.

At least that's what Silva's agents, Barry Praver and Scott Shapiro, are telling people around here. But Silva, one of only three free-agent pitchers (Tom Glavine and Andy Pettitte were the others) to win at least 13 games last season, wants a four- or five-year contract. And, as we know, Phillies GM Pat Gillick is opposed to such long-term deals for pitchers. So, whatever interest Silva's people have shown toward the Phillies this week hasn't been reciprocated. Again, that's according to Praver and Shapiro.

Now, you could argue Silva isn't worth a four-year, $48 million contract. He's 55-46 with a 4.31 ERA in six seasons with the Phillies and Twins, and he's never won more than 14 games (in 2004). Over the past two seasons, he's 24-29 with a 5.01 ERA. And when assistant GM Mike Arbuckle said yesterday, "We don't want to pay for a Cadillac when we're getting a Ford Focus," free agents like Silva popped into my mind.

But, given this market for pitching, it's hard to see Silva's price coming down. So, as the offseason chugs along, the Phillies may have to ask themselves this question: How much is it worth to deepen the back of a rotation that features still-unproven Kyle Kendrick, 45-year-old Jamie Moyer and injured/ineffective Adam Eaton?

*
The more I talk with people here, the more I think the Phillies are going to have a hard time circumventing the MLB rule that prohibits them from re-signing Tadahito Iguchi before May 15 after releasing him last month. Even Iguchi's agent, Rocky Hall, is beginning to doubt whether it can be done. And Hall said Iguchi probably won't accept a minor-league contract to play at triple-A Lehigh Valley until May 15, although that hasn't been discussed yet.

Also within the notebook, Aaron Rowand's agent/Barry Melrose lookalike, Craig Landis, responds to Gillick's comments that re-signing Rowand is a "long shot."

*
Didn't make the paper: Phillies have the 24th pick in the Rule 5 draft, and while Arbuckle, scouting director Marti Wolever, farm director Steve Noworyta and assistant farm director Mike Ondo have been studying eligible players, it's unlikely the Phillies will be able to get a quality player unless they trade up. That said, I'll bet they make a pick. The Rule 5 draft has been a Gillick favorite since he plucked George Bell from the Phillies in 1980.

*
In case you missed it, the rift between Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and third baseman Scott Rolen may have grown yesterday when La Russa went on a 10-minute rant to Cardinals beat reporters. He said his contentious relationship with Rolen "bothers the heck out of me" and characterized the situation as "very personal." It seems Rolen almost certainly will get traded, but it won't be to the Phillies.

Keep an eye, though, on Morgan Ensberg. Heard late last night that the Padres almost certainly won't offer him a contract for 2008. Could he fill the Phillies' third base need?

Dec. 5 -- DAY 3: KURODA OUT; ROWAND GONE, TOO?

NASHVILLE -- A few quick notes after our daily chat with Pat Gillick ...

* Confirming what we already assumed, Gillick said the Phillies are out of the running for Japanese right-hander Hiroki Kuroda. Tracked down a source in the lobby who informed me that Kuroda will visit Seattle, Arizona and LA next week. He doesn't appear interested in playing on the East Coast, and the latest offer made today by the Phillies wasn't as lucrative as Seattle's, which is believed to be climbing toward the $50 million mark.

* Gillick said re-signing Aaron Rowand is a "long shot." That comes after a meeting today with Rowand's agent, Craig Landis. About to head back to the lobby to find Landis, who, I must say, looks a lot like Barry Melrose.

* The Phillies have released troubled reliever Julio Mateo, who is facing assault charges from a May arrest in NY. Indications are Mateo's legal/personal problems are more serious than the Phillies believed when they acquired him in July for a minor league infielder.

* Asking price for pitchers in potential trades has been astronomical. One team source said the Phillies would have to "clean out the farm system" for Erik Bedard or Dan Haren. The Pirates are even asking for several prospects in exchange for lefty reliever John Grabow, whose health is something of a concern. Phillies aren't as interested in Pirates relievers Salomon Torres or Damaso Marte, and the asking price is just as high.

Gotta start writing. More later.

Dec. 5 -- WHAT'S UP, CHUCK?

NASHVILLE -- Spent time this morning with Charlie Manuel. Some highlights:

* The Phillies won the NL East last season, fulfilling Jimmy Rollins' "team to beat" claim and earning Manuel a two-year contract extension. But the skipper still is well-aware of how dangerous the Mets are. And, any day now, he's waiting to hear that they've become even more dangerous by making a trade. "I look at the Mets right now, if you want to know the truth, and I say to myself, 'When are they going to do something?' I know they're going to go out and try to win next year as much as anybody in our league. I feel like they've got something up their sleeve. I don't think they're going to expose themselves. I think there's things they're going to do yet, especially in the pitching area." (For what it's worth, we're still hearing the Mets aren't serious players for Erik Bedard or Dan Haren. That could change, of course).

* Manuel and pitching coach Rich Dubee juggled like circus clowns last season, blowing through a franchise-record 28 pitchers. And, while acquiring another starter and a reliever would certainly help, Manuel is looking for a few internal candidates to step forward. Who will be the 2008 version of Kyle Kendrick? Joe Bisenius in the bullpen, perhaps? Or Fabio Castro? "When we have our meetings, I always talk about Bisenius because of his breaking ball and his stuff," Manuel said. "Even when I don't talk a lot about him, I still think about him. I think he needs more experience and command, and he could be a guy that pitches in the major leagues. For me, Castro's kind of like J.C. Romero. I look at Castro as a situational guy early in the big leagues. The more success he has, he may move back toward the back of the bullpen."

* On Ryan Madson: "Right now, he can pitch for us anywhere from the sixth through the eighth inning. Madson has yet to reach his potential or show the expectation that our organization has had for him. If he pitched to his potential, that would be really good."

* Manuel realizes the value of retaining top prospects. But, as a manager, his job is to win now, not five years from now. So, if the Phillies can acquire a quality major leaguer by trading a prospect, he's all for it. "In that trade Detroit made yesterday, most people look at that and say the Detroit Tigers got Dontrelle Willis, he's a proven major league player, still 25, 26 years old. Andrew Miller's a guy, 22, first year in the big leagues, just came out of North Carolina. I like the hell out of Miller. But, at the same time, Detroit got a proven guy. If I could project Miller, I think he's going to be a real big pitcher. But Detroit got a young, proven guy. Florida's looking for the future, and Detroit's looking for now. I think with the players that we've got on offense, I think our future's the next two or three years, as far as having a real big team." (Note: Manuel has a two-year contract, too).

OK, must get back to the lobby. More later.

Dec. 5 -- DAY 3: OPENING THOUGHTS

NASHVILLE -- Good morning. Day 3 of the winter meetings is upon us. A few thoughts, big and small, as I set up the ole' computer for another long day ...

* Before anyone gets too giddy about the Phillies' Haagen-Dazs meeting to woo Tadahito Iguchi, keep this in mind: The Brewers have talked about moving NL Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun to left field, which would open a spot at third base (their trade talks for Scott Rolen apparently are dead). They're also looking for a situational hitter who gets on base. If they're willing to give Iguchi a multiyear deal, he'd be a good fit. And Iguchi lives in Chicago, so agent Rocky Hall said he'd be open to going to nearby Milwaukee. By the way, Hall is scheduled to meet with the Brewers today. So, stay tuned.

* Didn't make the paper: There is precedent for the waiver Iguchi would be seeking from the commissioner's office to allow him to re-sign with the team that released him after the season. Former catcher Steve Lake actually re-signed with the Phillies by obtaining the waiver in 1989. From talking to Hall, it sounds like getting the waiver is doable. But it's also time-consuming.

* Spoke to Charlie Manuel yesterday, and he expressed doubt over Bartolo Colon's health. Indications are the Phillies are higher on Kris Benson than any of the other pitchers rehabbing from arm injuries. As you'd expect, Benson's agent, Gregg Clifton, told me yesterday that Benson is doing just fine. He'll prove it Dec. 17 by working out for the Phillies and nine other teams in Arizona.

* Now that the Tigers have pulled off the Miguel Cabrera/Dontrelle Willis blockbuster, what becomes of Brandon Inge? Whispers in the lobby late last night were that Inge will be traded, perhaps giving the Phillies another third-base option, if they're so inclined. Inge, you should know, batted only .236 with 14 homers, 71 RBIs and a .688 OPS, the same number as the trio of Wes Helms, Abraham Nunez and Greg Dobbs that combined to give the Phillies the lowest third-base OPS in the NL last season. Inge also has three years and $19 million left on his contract.

* It's starting to sound like the Mets' "solution" to their starting pitching problems won't be Dan Haren or Erik Bedard, but rather free-agent Livan Hernandez.

* For the first time, Pat Gillick indicated the Phils may trade a top prospect or two for pitching help. So, for the right return, Carlos Carrasco, Joe Savery, Josh Outman or Adrian Cardenas may be had. You play GM: What would it take for you to give up one or more of those guys?

Plenty more later today, including Manuel's forecast for 2008.

Dec. 4 -- BREAKING NEWS: PHILS TALKING TO IGUCHI

NASHVILLE -- Time for me to get hacking on stories for the 50-center, but I wanted to pass this along. It's already been posted here, too.

Over the past few hours, the Phillies have renewed discussions to bring back free-agent infielder Tadahito Iguchi to play third base. Phillies general manager Pat Gillick and top assistant Ruben Amaro Jr. were spotted in Haagen-Dasz (seriously, I can't make this stuff up) this afternoon with Iguchi's agent, Rocky Hall, at the winter meetings today at the sprawling Opryland Hotel and Convention Center. Gillick and Hall confirmed the Phillies and Iguchi have mutual interest in a multi-year contract to fill the club's third base need.

Iguchi, acquired in a trade July 27 after second baseman Chase Utley broke his hand, initially told the Phillies he wasn't willing to move to third. The Phillies released Iguchi in accordance with a clause in his contract that allowed him to bypass arbitration and become a free agent after his third season in the majors. But Hall said tonight that Iguchi has reconsidered playing third base. With potential offers evaporating from several other teams, Iguchi would agree to switch positions in return for a multi-year contract.

Iguchi, who turned 33 today, batted .304 with three home runs and 12 RBIs and impressed the Phillies with his situational hitting after being acquired. He's a .276 hitter in three major league seasons with the Chicago White Sox and the Phillies.

There's one potential snag: MLB rules prohibit a released player to re-sign with the team that released him until May 15. But the Phillies and Hall believe that regulation may be lifted because of Iguchi's unique contract status.

*
I'm sure you've heard (word travels fast nowadays), but the Marlins reportedly have dealt Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to the Tigers for six players, including outfield prospect Cameron Maybin and pitching prospect Andrew Miller. Guess you can pencil in the Marlins for last place in the NL East, huh?

Dec. 4 -- DAY 2: MID-DAY REPORT

NASHVILLE -- So, a lot of you have asked, via blog comments and e-mails, about the Phillies' potential pursuit of Erik Bedard, which is being reported in some places.

Keep dreaming.

After spending some time in the lobby, I've heard they don't have enough pieces to pull off such a deal. The Orioles are looking for a package of upper-level prospects, and as you know, the Phillies' farm system isn't particularly strong or deep. I've heard the Orioles rejected a Mets offer of outfield prospect Carlos Gomez, pitching prospect Phil Humber and setup reliever Aaron Heilman. If that's not going to get it done, surely the Phillies don't have any package that will. Meantime, the Mets and Orioles continue to talk.

If the Phillies acquire a soon-to-be former Orioles pitcher, it'll be free-agent right-hander Kris Benson. As I wrote today in the 50-center, the Phils will be among at least nine teams that dispatch scouts and execs to watch Benson throw next week. If the Phillies make a trade, it would have to be for a second- or third-tier pitcher, someone like Giants' lefty Noah Lowry.

Not much else going on. Saw Charlie Manuel about an hour ago, and he said the Phillies continue to have discussions about how to improve their pitching staff.

Back to the lobby. More later.

Dec. 4 -- THE QUEST FOR PITCHING CONTINUES

NASHVILLE -- Good morning, and welcome to Day 2 of the winter meetings. You know you're in Nashville when the TV in your room is pre-programmed to Country Music Television and a bad Elvis lookalike opens the door to the hotel lobby. Yeah, it's definitely a different atmosphere around here.

I should mention that we're in the Central time zone, one hour behind y'all back home. So, if things seem like they're developing slowly here, that's probably why. Of course, the sluggish pace also has something to do with the lack of talent in the pitching pool, where the Phillies are doing most of their fishing. But Pat Gillick said yesterday that he remains optimistic that they'll get something done this week before heading home.

In today's 50-center, we theorized why the Phillies may have trouble luring pitching help. Although Gillick insists he hasn't heard much griping from agents, indications are that Citizens Bank Park is a deterrent to free-agent pitchers. It certainly was for Randy Wolf, who spurned the Phillies to pitch in spacious Petco Park. Wolf, who needs a good 2008 season to revive a career stalled by injuries, believes pitching in the Bank would hinder that cause. It's hard to disagree.

Talked to Rockies scout (and Milford, Del., resident) Will George yesterday. The Rockies face a similar problem, fighting the reputation of Coors Field. Several years ago, they concluded they'd be better off drafting and developing their own pitchers than overspending for free agents like Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle. The Phillies have developed their own with Cole Hamels, Brett Myers and Kyle Kendrick. Maybe the rotation gets significantly better only when Carlos Carrasco and Joe Savery are ready.

*
Aaron Rowand was a big topic of conversation yesterday, and he surely will continue to be for the rest of the week. From everything we heard, it certainly seems like the market is receding as long as he continues to desire a five-year contract. Apparently, other reporters are hearing the same thing. Here's what they're writing about Rowand in Chicago and in Los Angeles.

*
OK, time to start trolling the lobby. We'll be back with updates throughout the day.

Dec. 3 -- DAY 1: GILLICK SPEAKS

NASHVILLE -- Sorry I've been away for a while. Lots of stuff to sort through in my notebook. Most of this will be in the 50-center tomorrow, but I wanted to pass along a few bits of info and some quotes from Pat Gillick.

* If the Yankees include center fielder Melky Cabrera in a deal for Johan Santana, sources say they probably won't pursue Aaron Rowand. Here's the thing: the Yanks' payroll without Santana is about $205 million. If they acquire Santana, they'll be agreeing to pay him about $25 million annually, boosting their payroll to about $230 million. So, that's another team seemingly out of the Rowand running. But if the market for Rowand is receding, Gillick wouldn't say. He did, however, reiterate the Phillies' interest in re-signing Rowand, if the contract terms are right. The Phillies appear willing to offer three years for $36-39 million with a vesting option for a fourth season, but that's it. "We'd like to have him back," Gillick said. "We want him back. He's the type of player who's good on our club. He's good for the fans. He plays hard. But again, we have to look at length of contract."

* Gillick said it's "50-50" that the Phillies will acquire a pitcher through a trade vs. free agency. He also said he's optimistic they'll make a move before leaving here Thursday.

* Of the free-agent pitchers recovering from arm injuries, Gillick said the Phillies had the most confidence in Randy Wolf's health. But with Wolf off the market, they're planning to look at Kris Benson next week in Arizona. Benson, who missed last season with a torn rotator cuff, will throw for at least nine teams. The Phils also may pursue Bartolo Colon, Jason Jennings or Matt Clement.

* The Phils won't re-sign Jon Lieber. "We don't have any interest in Jon," Gillick said.

* Gillick reiterated that right-hander Adam Eaton has begun a rehab program to strengthen his balky shoulder. And although Eaton won't need surgery, Gillick said his health makes him "a question mark." See why the Phillies are looking for another starter?

Taking one last spin through the lobby before I call it a day. For now, I'll leave you with this (and some of you have weighed in already): If the Phillies don't re-sign Rowand, what's your level of confidence in Jayson Werth in right field?

Dec. 3 -- DAY 1: MID-DAY UPDATE

NASHVILLE -- Taking a load off for a couple minutes after spending a few hours wandering this enormous labyrinth of a hotel. Seriously, this place is like it's own little town. Plenty of hiding places for GMs and agents who don't want to be seen.

A few notes of interest:

* The Rockies don't think they'll be able to re-sign lefty reliever Jeremy Affeldt. They've offered him $4 million for two years, but they think he's going to get $16 million for four years. Kind of makes the Phillies' deal for J.C. Romero (three years, $12 million) look affordable, doesn't it? Might the Phillies be interested in Affeldt? I guess so, but not for that much money.

* Aaron Rowand's options may be diminishing. The Dodgers reportedly aren't willing to give him more than three years. Rowand, of course, is looking for five. So, if the Phillies, White Sox (they'd prefer to trade for Coco Crisp) and Dodgers aren't biting, who's left? The Nationals don't need a center fielder after trading for Lastings Milledge last week, and the Twins figure they'll replace Torii Hunter by getting either Melky Cabrera from the Yankees or Jacoby Ellsbury or Crisp from the Red Sox in a deal for Johan Santana. If a Santana deal doesn't get made, maybe the Twins will look to Rowand. And if it does, maybe the Yankees will look to replace Cabrera will Rowand. Of course, Mike Cameron and Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome are free agents and figure to come cheaper than Rowand. So, it seems to me that Rowand may need to come down from his five-year demand.

* Pat Gillick loves the Rule 5 draft, which will be the final event of the meetings on Thursday. In 1980, Gillick swiped George Bell from the Phillies. Every few years, there's a steal in the Rule 5 draft. The Phillies got Shane Victorino from the Dodgers in 2004, and a few years (and two Cy Young Awards) earlier, Santana was taken by the Marlins (and later traded to the Twins). But the Phillies have only the 24th pick in this year's draft, and scouting director Marti Wolever said today that they'll likely have to trade up if they want to find a quality player.

More later.

Dec. 3 -- WINTER WONDERLAND

NASHVILLE -- Hello from Music City.

Got in a little while ago (the combination of US Airways and Philadelphia International Airport is truly lethal), and already hearing some juicy rumors. Checked into the hotel at the same time as the incomparable Ken Rosenthal from FOX Sports, and he's hearing the Padres are close to a long-term deal with Jake Peavy and Johan Santana has told the Twins he'll veto a mid-season trade. Clearly, he's trying to pressure Minnesota into dealing him this week, likely to the Yankees or Red Sox.

But you're Phillies fans, right? So, y'all are more interested in Aaron Rowand and where Pat Gillick & Co. will turn for pitching now that Randy Wolf is off the market. Well, Let's get to it.

As I wrote in my Sunday baseball notes in the 50-center, Rowand is insisting on a five-year contract, which apparently is a deal-breaker for the Phillies, White Sox and perhaps a few other teams. Hard to blame them, really. While Rowand always has been relatively durable (2006 was the only time he went on the disabled list), he plays center field like the late Evil Knievel might have. One of the reasons teams like Rowand is that he'll run through an outfield wall. But that's also a reason to take pause before investing in him for the next five years. The Phillies would feel more comfortable giving Rowand a three-year deal, or perhaps three years with an option. But I'm certain they'll be talking this week to his agent, Craig Landis, who will have discussions with several other teams, too. If the Yankees include Melky Cabrera in a deal for Santana, they may be interested in Rowand. That certainly would spice up the negotiations.

But the Phillies continue to insist their main focus is pitching. They're looking for a middle-of-the-rotation starter and another setup reliever. I wouldn't be surprised if Japanese right-hander Hiroki Kuroda makes his decision this week (the Mariners remain the favorite). Might the Phillies make a pitch for Bartolo Colon? We'll see.

I'll be posting many, many updates throughout the week from the positively enormous Opryland Hotel & Convention Center, so keep checking back here. For now, I'll ask you this: What do the Phillies have to do this week for you to consider these winter meetings a success?

Dec. 1 -- WOLF TO SAN DIEGO

This just in: Randy Wolf has agreed to a one-year contract with the Padres, pending a physical exam. Financial terms aren't immediately available, but the deal is believed to be packed with performance-based incentives to supplement a low base salary.

Clearly, the Phillies wanted Wolf. Pat Gillick, Ruben Amaro Jr. and others put on a full-court press this week, trying to lure Wolf back here. Ultimately, though, he opted for San Diego's pitcher-friendly Petco Park, a move that keeps him close to home (Wolf grew up in Los Angeles).

So, what now for the Phillies? Well, they may have to look toward someone like Kris Benson or perhaps Bartolo Colon. They also may take a closer look at Jon Lieber.

More on this tomorrow before I head to Nashville for the winter meetings.