Following Roy Halladay's placement on the disabled list with shoulder soreness, the Phillies are looking at external options to fill the current rotation hole, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told reporters, including Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).
Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com adds (also via Twitter) that the team will go with an internal candidate to pitch in Halladay's spot on Friday, and Tyler Cloyd and Adam Morgan are the top candidates. Top prospect Jesse Biddle is not an option, according to Amaro.
It's a bit early in the season for major trades, but there's been plenty of speculation on the availability of Astros hurlers Bud Norris and Lucas Harrell. It would be easier for the Phillies to pursue a trade for a veteran that's currently on a minor league contract such as Chris Young of the Nationals or Chien-Ming Wang of the Yankees. Both hurlers have opt-out clauses in their contracts but have not received a chance to crack their respective Major League rotations. Those names, of course, are sheer specuation on my part — not comments made by Amaro.
Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Jonathan Pettibone and Kyle Kendrick are the Phils' four healthy starters at the moment with John Lannan on the disabled list. The team's pitching depth was depleted somewhat this offseason after dealing Vance Worley and Trevor May to the Twins in order to acquire Ben Revere.
