Phillies Notes: Phillies Looking at Ross, 25-Man taking Shape

According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Phillies are intensifying their pursuit of free agent Cody Ross.

Ross, who turns 32 later this month, batted .267 with 22 home runs and 81 RBI in 130 games this past season for the Red Sox and is said to be seeking a three-year, $25 million deal in free agency.

He would be a pretty good right-handed bat behind Ryan Howard in the batting order and would man right field for the Phillies.  Ross averages 22 home runs and 83 RBI per season in his big league career which spans nine years.  In 36 career games at Citizens Bank Park, Ross is hitting .271 with 8 home runs and 16 RBI.

Ross gained notoriety during the 2010 NLCS, hitting three home runs and driving in five runs vs. the Phillies during that series, including two dingers in the same game against Roy Halladay - he earned the 2010 NL NLCS MVP award for his performance in that series.

After landing set-up man Mike Adams and starer John Lannan to fill two positions of need, the Phillies have money left over to add one final piece this off season - a right-handed outfielder with some pop; Ross fits that role.

A line-up with Ross on board would look like this:

SS Jimmy Rollins
CF Ben Revere
2B Chase Utley
1B Ryan Howard
RF Cody Ross
3B Michael Young
C  Carlos Ruiz (after 25 game suspension)
LF Dom Brown/ Darin Ruf/John Mayberry Jr.

Pitching Rotation

1. Roy Halladay
2. Cole Hamels
3. Cliff Lee
4. Kyle Kendrick
5. John Lannan

Bullpen

CL Jonathan Papelbon
SU Mike Adams
LHR Antonio Bastardo
RHR Phillippe Aumont
RHR Justin De Fratus
RHR Mike Stutes
LHR Jeremy Horst

Bench

Darin Ruf or Laynce Nix
John Mayberry Jr.
Erik Kratz
Kevin Frandsen
Freddy Galvis

That is what the 25-man roster might look like, is that good enough to get the Phillies back to the playoffs and win a World Series in 2013?