Phillies Interested in Carlos Zambrano?

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro shot down media reports on Saturday that his team had signed veteran right-hander Carlos Zambrano, but added that they could consider it.  With injuries to Roy Halladay and John Lannan, Amaro said earlier this week that his team was in the market for starting pitching and is exploring low cost options.

Zambrano, pitched for his native Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic and recently signed with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League in an effort to draw the attention of MLB clubs would most likely come cheap.  He threw one game in the WBC, lasting 3.2 innings, giving up one hit and two runs.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported that the Phils weren't in the process of signing Zambrano and if they did check in on him, it could be something of a due diligence scouting move.

The Phillies could use some depth in their rotation, but the 31-year-old will have to pitch well in indy ball, after being passed over this off-season by every MLB club, before they consider signing him.

Last year in Miami, Zambrano was used mostly out of the bullpen, posting a 4.49 ERA and 95/75 K/BB ratio over 132 1/3 innings.

While he has some baggage, Zambrano is still just 31 years old and was once one of the premier pitchers in the game, he could be a low-cost veteran who could eat some innings, but the feeling here, is the Phillies could do better.