Phils have roster options to accommodate Victorino

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Monday, May 30, 2011
Posted: 5:50 p.m.

By Jim Salisbury
CSNPhilly.com

WASHINGTONShane Victorino is scheduled to continue his minor-league injury rehabilitation assignment by playing in games at Double A Reading on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

If all goes well, Victorino will likely be back in the Phillies' lineup Friday night in Pittsburgh.

The Phils face a bit of a roster quandary in making room for Victorino, but they have plenty of options:

They could scale back from 12 pitchers to 11, though this does not appear to be the teams preference. Manager Charlie Manuel likes to carry 12 pitchers and the depth is important given the health history of some members of the staff.

They could place Ross Gload on the disabled list so he can get treatment on a hip injury that he has been playing through.

They could send Ben Francisco, John Mayberry Jr. or Domomic Brown to the minors. All have minor-league options remaining. For the record, Browns spot appears to be safe as the organization seems committed to giving him a good look against right-handed pitching. He went 5 for 7 with two RBIs over the weekend in New York. He added an RBI single in Monday afternoons 5-4 win over Washington, waiting nicely on a 3-1 breaking ball from Livan Hernandez and swatting it to right.

The Phils could expose infielder Michael Martinez to waivers where he could be claimed by another club or be offered back to Washington. This does not appear to be something the club wants to do as it likes Martinez skills and versatility and would like to keep him.

Its unclear which way the Phillies will go in four days. The team is in no hurry to tip its hand as these things often have a way of working themselves out.

The Phils will make a separate roster move Tuesday after sending pitcher Vance Worley to the minors.

Victorino was 1 for 6 with two RBIs in two games over the weekend for Single A Lakewood.

E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com

Related: Worley sent to minors, roster addition to comeMLB standings

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