The Phillies have re-signed 34-year old lefty reliever J.C. Romero. Romero pitched in 60 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last season and he was 1-0 with 3 saves, a 3.68 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. He has now pitched in 213 games (0 starts) in his first four years with the Phillies and he is 6-6 with 4 saves, a 2.60 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Romero has only given up 99 hits in 148 2/3 innings with the Phillies as he misses a lot of bats but he has also walked 105 batters and that is way too many. It was smart of the Phillies to bring back Romero for another year.

The Phillies have swooped in and signed 32-year old lefty starting pitcher Cliff Lee to a 5-year, $107.5 million dollar deal with a very reachable vesting option for a 6th season valued at $27.5 million bucks with a $12.5 million dollar buyout. His option vests if he pitches either 200 innings in 2014 or at least 400 innings in 2014+2015 combined. Last season, Lee pitched in 28 games (all starts) for the Mariners & Rangers and he was 12-9 with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. He only walked 18 batters in 212 1/3 innings last season which is mind blowing. Lee has now pitched in 222 games (218 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 102-61 with a 3.85 ERA and a 1.26 ERA during the regular season. He has also pitched in 10 games (all starts) in the post season in his career and he is 7-2 with a 2.13 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP.

Lee said that he and his wife loved their time in Philly in 2009 and that played a big reason why they chose to return. Lee pitched in 12 games (all starts) during the regular season for the Phillies in 2009 and he was 7-4 with a 3.39 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. Lee also pitched in 5 games (all starts) in the post season for the Phillies in 2009 and he was 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP.

The Phillies now have the best rotation in major league baseball without a doubt. Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels will be the top four going into the 2011 season. The Phillies are trying to trade Joe Blanton to free up some money, but he would be a great #5 starter if they can find a way to keep him.

The Phillies have selected 28-year old switch hitting 2B/SS/OF Michael Martinez away from the Washington Nationals in the Rule 5 Draft. Martinez played in 133 games in AA+AAA-ball last season and he was 132 of 485 (.272 avg, .720 OPS) with 57 runs scored, 11 homers, 56 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. Martinez has now played in 548 games in his five years in the minors and he is 515 of 1,961 (.263 avg, .683 OPS)with 272 runs scored, 20 homers, 208 RBIs and 82 stolen bases. Martinez will get a shot to win a bench job with the Phillies next spring.

The Phillies have signed 33-year old righty swinging 1B/3B Robb Quinlan to a minor league deal. Quinlan played in 23 games for the Angels last season and he was 4 of 33 (.121 avg, .353 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 2 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He has now played in 458 games in his first 8 years in the minors and he is 307 of 1,112 (.276 avg, .723 OPS) with 134 runs scored, 25 homers, 121 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. Quinlan will get a shot to win a job on the Phillies’ bench next spring.

UPDATE: (3/11/2011) - The Phillies have released Robb Quinlan.

The Phillies have signed 28-year old righty reliever Brian Bass to a minor league contract. Bass pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Pirates last season and he was 0-0 with a 12.27 ERA and a 2.59 WHIP. He has now pitched in 101 games (4 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 9-7 with 1 save, a 5.16 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP. Bass will likely be stashed in AAA but he will get a shot to win a job in the Phillies’ bullpen next spring.