John Mayberry Jr. appears to be part of GM Ruben Amaro's plans for the Phillies 2014 roster.

Even if last season was Mayberry's worst yet.

Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Mayberry, who last year hit .227/.286/.391 in 134 games, across the board his lowest rate of three big league seasons, is likely to receive a tender through arbitration.

This is Mayberry's first of three years of arbitration eligibility. He earned $517,000 last season.

After running out of minor league options last season, Mayberry, 29, needs to be on the Phillies 25-man roster throughout next season or be released from the organization, per league rules.

Mayberry broke out in 2011, when he hit .273 with a .854 OPS in his first full season in the bigs and became a Charlie Manuel favorite, but has regressed in each of the two years since. Even as a right-handed option off manager Ryne Sandberg's bench, Mayberry's production needs to improve.

Retaining Mayberry and, reportedly, signing Marlon Byrd to a two-year deal worth $16 million has implications for the rest the 25-man roster. Mayberry has served as the primary platoon option and backup to Ryan Howard at first base and Ben Revere in center, positions shared by top prospects Darin Ruf and Cesar Hernandez.

Mayberry is one of six Phillies eligible for arbitration this offseason. Pitchers Kyle Kendrick, John Lannan and Antonio Bastardo and center fielder Ben Revere and utility infielder Kevin Frandsen are the others. Outfielders Roger Bernadina and Casper Wells, added to the 25-man during last season, have already elected free agency.

Matt Hammond covers the Phillies for 97.3 ESPN-FM. 

Follow him on Twitter at @MKH973. Catch him every Saturday from 12-2 on "Sports Bash Saturday."

More From 97.3 ESPN