Antonio Bastardo and Michael Stutes have been, pardon the pun, “aces” in the hole for the back end of the bullpen. They’ve excelled in their roles, old and new, and are leading the way of home grown in the bullpen. With the Phillies needing a little balance to their wallets, let’s look at five guys who could help the Phillies bullpen this year or next.

In AAA, both Michael Zagurski, yes the same Zagurski we’ve seen in the past, and Michael Schwimer have been making their cases for callups. Zagurski appears to be the Iron Pigs defacto closer with 10 saves. He currently has a 2-0 record with a 1.86 ERA and a 14.6 K/9. Schwimer has been similarly as effective with a 3-0 record with a 1.45 ERA and a 11.9 K/9.

Not to be out done, AA Reading has three arms that are close to being ready. Currently on the 7-day DL, Michael Cisco is quietly 3-0 with a 1.46 ERA and 6.7 K/9. Two of Reading’s options as closer are Justin De Fratus and Phillipe Aumont. De Fratus is 4-0 with a 1.91 ERA and 10.9 Ks per nine and Aumont is a tough luck 1-5 with a 2.43 ERA and a 12.0 K/9.

If they all remain in the oranization until Spring Training, it should be an interesting battle for major league roster spots.

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Yesterday it was reported that the Phillies front office is looking to acquire a right handed bat. Well isn’t that the shocker of the century? We’ve all seen the glaring need once it was apparrent that Ben Francisco and John Mayberry Jr couldn’t take sole posession of a roster spot. While Francisco survived, his playing time is decreasing.

Unfortunately, an article on MLBTR speculated players like Carlos Quentin and Hunter Pence as “possible” fits. Now Phillies fans will go ballistic if the Phillies don’t acquire yet another premiere player at the deadline.

More importantly, the Phillies almost cetainly would have to move a player off the major league roster to remain under the luxury tax threshold. Ibanez has no trade protection. Rollins has 10 and 5 rights, so his options are limited. Blanton is still injured. Oswalt has no trade protection. The question is, “Who CAN you move?”.

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