Carlos Zambrano

Chase Utley said today that he's anticipating returning to the Phillies' starting lineup in the middle of June. “Yeah, it’s realistic,” Utley told Todd Zolecki of MLB.com Utley, who has been sidelined since straining his oblique back on May 21, has been fielding ground balls and expects to swing a bat within the next couple of days...

Carlos Zambrano did what he needed to, and that was good to see. Making his first minor league start, he threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings on three hits and two walks, throwing 31 of his 44-pitches for strikes allowing just the one hit while striking out five and allowing just two fly balls to the outfield...

As was speculated a week ago, the Phillies signed right-handed pitcher Carlos Zambrano to a minor league contract today. The 31-year-old had a mediocre 4.49 ERA and 95/75 K/BB ratio over 132 1/3 innings last season with the Marlins pitching both as a starter and relief pitcher...

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...