The Phillies are on the verge of shaking up the majors worst bullpen.Sources have confirmed that the team will call up lefthanders Jake Diekman and Raul Valdes from Triple A Lehigh Valley on Friday. The news was first reported by reliever Michael Schwimer via Twitter. Schwimer was demoted to Triple A on Wednesday.In addition to the two relievers, the Phillies will also promote utility infielderoutfielder Hector Luna, a spring-training standout, to the big-league club on Friday. That news also came via Schwimer and was confirmed by baseball sources.The additions might not stop there. Sources say veteran infielder Mike Fontenot, signed to a minor-league contract in April after being let go the Giants late in spring training, could also be on his way in the coming days.The Phillies have not announced any of these roster moves because there are many moving parts. Diekman, Valdes and Luna must all be added to the 40-man roster, which is full. The team could open spots by transferring an injured player or two to the 60-day disabled list. Another spot could be cleared if the team chose to send recently promoted reliever Brian Sanches back to the minors. That move would require the Phillies first placing Sanches on waivers. The Phils have already cleared one spot on their 25-man roster by sending reliever Joe Savery to Triple A. A transaction involving Sanches could clear another spot. Placing outfielderfirst baseman Laynce Nix on the 15-day disabled list could clear another spot on the 25-man roster. Nix has been bothered by a calf strain.All these moves would be part of a potential team improvement that general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said must start in-house (see story). The Phillies are 14-18 and in last place in the NL East, five games out of first. There have been a number of reasons for the Phils poor start. The bullpen has squandered several leads in recent days en route to the worst bullpen ERA in the majors5.47.Diekman and Valdes will both add some strikeout power to the bullpen.Diekman, a 25-year-old lefty, was a spring-training standout. He has allowed just one run and in 15 13 innings at Lehigh Valley. He has 22 strikeouts and just three walks. Diekman has never pitched in the majors.Valdes, a 34-year-old lefty, has had big-league time with the Mets, Yankees and Cardinals. He has a 3.86 ERA in 21 innings at Lehigh Valley and has registered 26 strikeouts while walking just one.Luna, 32, has big-league time with the Cardinals, Marlins, Indians and Blue Jays. He is hitting .277 with a homer and 12 RBIs in 28 games at Lehigh Valley.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com.