PHILLIES NEWS

The Phils have already started to making offseason moves. Today they picked up the $9 million option to keep ace Cliff Lee here for another year. They also decided not to negotiate a new contract with former ace Brett Myers, meaning his tenure here is effectively over. So it will be interesting to see what the Phils rotation looks like next season. Obviously, the top 4 will or should remain intact, with Lee, Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton, and J.A Happ, but will be interesting to see who the number 5 starter. If Pedro Martinez comes back then it would probably be him, otherwise they can go with the ageless one, Jamie Moyer, who will be back for one more season, or Kyle Kendrick who looked very good late last season, and was the Phils no.5 starter in 07 and much of 08, or there's even a 3rd option, the young phenom Kyle Drabek, the 1st round pick from a couple years back who's been tearing up the Phil's farm system, but he's probably not ready yet. Aside from that the Phils also want to bolster their bullpen and bench, which were really the only weaknesses for this year's team. Finally the Phils also have to decide whether or not to resign 3B Pedro Feliz for another season. There are a few free agent 3B who might be an upgrade over Feliz, offensively, but defensively he is about as good as it gets, so it will be a tough decision. I think we should stick with the Feliz though , as his numbers this year, contrary to popular belief, were up from 08, with 154 hits, 30 doubles, 82 RBIs, and a .266 batting average. As far as I am concerned if you can get that kind of production from your #7 hitter in the National League, you're lucky and you'd be crazy to give it up.