The arrival of the New Year and the end of the Eagles season has put the Phillies in the on-deck circle.
Spring training is just seven weeks away, close enough for baseball junkies to begin counting down the days and still far enough off for general managers to make a few more moves.
Ruben Amaro Jr. isnt planning any.
At least any big ones.
Were pretty happy with the team we have in place, the Phillies general manager said Tuesday. If theres an area we might play around with its the bullpen, but Id say theres a pretty good chance we might be done.
The Phillies made a big splash signing free-agent closer Jonathan Papelbon in November. They also re-signed shortstop Jimmy Rollins and remade their bench with the signings of Jim Thome and Laynce Nix and the addition of Ty Wigginton through a trade.
Amaros decision to play around with .the bullpen might come down to what happens later this week when righthander Jose Contreras is scheduled to have his surgically repaired elbow evaluated.
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If we get an indication that Jose isnt going to be ready, we might look to see if theres some low-hanging fruit out there, Amaro said. But every indication weve gotten so far on Contreras is that hes going to be fine and well go with the kids and let them compete for jobs.
If healthy, Contreras would join Antonio Bastardo in the mix to be a setup man for Papelbon. Mike Stutes, Kyle Kendrick, David Herndon, Justin De Fratus, Michael Schwimer and Brian Sanches would also be in line to compete for bullpen innings in spring training. The Phillies will look at Dontrelle Willis as a lefty specialist. Joe Savery will also get a look in that role and Amaro indicated he might continue to look to improve the teams left-handed relief depth.
Free agent Ryan Madson would be the answer to a lot of the teams setup relief concerns. The Phillies have continued to monitor Madsons status and there have been indications that the team would consider bringing the righthander back on a one-year deal. However, baseball sources say Madson is still looking for a closers job and that position is filled in Philadelphia.
Because of his policy of not commenting on free agents, Amaro declined to speak of Madsons situation.
Amaro was asked about another Phillie-turned-free-agent, Roy Oswalt, and he conceded that he didnt see the Phillies being a fit for the righthander.
The signing of Nix likely closed the door on a return for Raul Ibanez. No doors have been closed on reliever Brad Lidge, but its unclear where he will end up.
The Phils finished 2011 with a payroll over 177 million, the third-highest mark in the majors behind the Yankees and Red Sox. The Phils were less than 1 million from reaching the 178 million payroll threshold. With raises due to a number of players and contracts to be negotiated with arbitration-eligible players Cole Hamels and Hunter Pence, the Phils are being cognizant of the threshold as the new season approaches. They already have about 136 million committed to 16 players for 2012.
Our payroll is well past where we want to be after signing Jimmythats a fact, Amaro said. Its going to be right around or about where we finished last year. Were in a dangerous area.
But its plenty of payroll to field a championship-caliber clubwhich I think we have right now.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com