CHICAGO - Ruben Amaro Jr. arrived at the annual general managers' meetings late this afternoon and listed his priorities for upgrading his team this off-season.
"Third base, bullpen, bench," the Phillies' GM said in the lobby of the O'Hare Hilton, where the meetings run through tomorrow.
What about starting pitching?
"We're more bullpen-intensive than anything else," Amaro said.
The Phils' attempt to build a better bullpen this winter apparently won't stop them from trying to strengthen their starting rotation.
More than one baseball official with knowledge of the Phillies' off-season plan said today that the team remains very much in the picture to acquire Toronto Blue Jays righthander Roy Halladay.
The Phils unsuccessfully pursued the six-time all-star in July and ended up acquiring Cliff Lee from Cleveland instead. The Jays are still looking to move Halladay, and sources say there has been recent contact between that club and the Phillies.
"Philadelphia is into winning now, and Halladay fits that," one rival front-office man said.
As in the summer, there are serious hurdles to the Phillies' pulling off a deal for Halladay. Toronto is looking for a premium package of young, major-league-ready players and prospects. The Phillies balked at the Jays' request of pitchers Kyle Drabek and J.A. Happ and outfielders Domonic Brown and Anthony Gose this summer. If the Jays' price has come down - and it may have with Halladay due to become a free agent after next season - the Phils might be open to more serious talks. Drabek, as was the case last summer, remains an untouchable.
The Phils paid nearly $140 million in salary and bonuses in 2009, and they already have more than $106 million committed to 12 players for 2010. That's before Joe Blanton, Shane Victorino, and Carlos Ruiz get significant raises. That is also before they get a third baseman and upgrade the bullpen.
There won't be a lot of room to take on Halladay's $15.75 million salary for 2010, but sources say the Phillies might make an exception for that caliber of pitcher and make another big run at the World Series while they have Lee (he can be a free agent after 2010), Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Jayson Werth in their primes.
As many as a dozen teams could be in the running for Halladay, so his coming to Philadelphia is far from a sure thing. But don't count it out. These are the glory days for the Phillies. They are thinking big, and players want to play for them.
"We're in a fortunate position," Amaro said in general. "We've become an attractive place to go."
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