Tim Dierkes covered the Phillies' winter moves yesterday in the latest installment of MLBTR's Offseason In Review series. If today's news is any indication, however, the Phils may yet make another tweak or two to their roster before Opening Day. Here's the latest from the City of Brotherly Love…
- The Phillies have been talking to other teams about adding depth in the outfield, bullpen and behind the plate, ESPN's Jayson Stark reports (Twitter link).
- Also from Stark (Twitter links), Phillies GM Ruben Amaro said the outfield situation isn't quite settled. "We could make a trade (or) sign somebody," Amaro said. "We'll see. If there are ways to improve our team, we'll try to do it."
- Alex Esteban, Yuniesky Betancourt's agent, tells Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer that his client will opt out of his minor league deal with the Phillies if he isn't added to their Major League roster by Sunday. "Our preference would be to stay with the Phillies but it's out of our control," Esteban said. "We would definitely be opting out and seeing what's out there." Gelb speculates that the Cardinals, Marlins and Astros could be possible fits for Betancourt if he becomes a free agent.
- If Betancourt makes the Phillies and reaches his contract incentives, his deal would pay him $1.4MM, Gelb reports.
- From earlier today, the Phillies released Rodrigo Lopez.
