Phils adviser Gillick met with Aramis Ramirez

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DALLASIts still unclear whether the Phillies interest in free-agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez is real or a ploy to pressure Jimmy Rollins into lowering his demand for a five-year contract.

But the Phils interest in Ramirez is legitimate enough that front-office adviser Pat Gillick met face-to-face with Ramirez last month in the Dominican Republic.

Gillick performed several tasks on his trip, including scouting free agent Yeonnis Cespedes. The Phillies are unlikely to enter the bidding for the Cuban outfielder, who is seeking more than 30 million.

Gillick has always favored getting to know a player before he does business with him. It is a trait he passed down to his successor, Ruben Amaro Jr. Gillick met with Ramirez at Amaros request, according to a source.

He liked him, a Phillies official said of Gillicks meeting with Ramirez.

Ramirez, 33, is looking for a three-year contract. It is likely that he is a backup plan in case the Phillies cant sign Rollins. In that case, the Phils would look to sign Ramirez as their third baseman, trade Placido Polanco, and fill the shortstop position for a year while Freddy Galvis percolates in Triple A.

The Phillies preference, according to sources, is to re-sign Rollins for something less than five years. The Phillies prefer a three-year deal but there are indications they would add a fourth-year option.

Phillies officials met with Rollins agent, Dan Lozano, on Sunday and Monday nights here at the winter meetings. Sunday nights meeting did not go well, according to sources. There were indications that Monday nights meeting was more productive.

E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com

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