Philadelphia Phillies Free Agent News: 5 Available Players Who Fit Needs

With the offseason gradually winding down and the beginning of spring training creeping closer and closer, many transactions around the league have been completed and most teams have a good sense of what their Opening Day rosters will look like. Prince Fielder and Edwin Jackson being exceptions, most free agents have also signed with either their teams of old or have left familiarity and have signed elsewhere.

The Philadelphia Phillies, for once, seem like they have most of their Opening Day roster in place. They had an opening at closer and filled it with the best available in Jonathan Papelbon. They had to find some bench bats and signed Jim Thome and Laynce Nix, and traded for Ty Wigginton. They needed to find a shortstop; they re-signed Jimmy Rollins. A backup catcher and lefty specialist were needed, and Brian Schneider and Dontrelle Willis were brought back and welcomed in, respectively.

While one could contest that the Phils’ roster is set and ready to go for April, there are still a few holes that could be filled. For starters, the team needs a fifth outfielder after trading Ben Francisco to the Toronto Blue Jays. They also have a potential need of another reliever—especially a set-up man—if Jose Contreras isn’t ready for Opening Day and/or if the team wants to add an external seventh reliever. And while they don’t need one, another backup infielder sure wouldn’t hurt, either.

This slideshow will cover five potential free agent options the Phils could use to fill their remaining vacancies. Again, while there isn’t a pressing need for the Fightins at this time, these are 10 moves that would be appropriate should they be pursued.

Without further ado…

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