Antonio Bastardo

Phillies 4, Kansas City Royals 3 Phillies (2-3), Royals (2-3) WP: Antonio Bastardo (1-0, 0.00 ERA) LP: Greg Holland (0-1, ERA) By the time Kevin Frandsen had stepped to the plate, the vibe had fallen flat. Even with the bags full in the bottom of the ninth, as they were with consecutive lead-off walks from Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Michael Young, the angst of iffy early clutch hitting lingered.

Phillies free agent acquisition Mike Adams has already been throwing in Clearwater and is on schedule for spring training following surgery in October to correct his Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. He probably won't pitch until the second week of the Grapefruit League schedule, but that was something the Phillies knew when they signed Adams this off-season...

Phillies avoided arbitration with left-handed relief pitcher by agreeing to a one-year, $1.4 million contract.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports that the Phillies have acquired Michael Young from the Rangers. (Listen to ESPNDallas.com Rangers Insider Richard Durrentt talk about Michael Young and Josh Hamilton) (Listen to CSNPhilly.com Phillies Insider Jim Salisbury on the Sports Bash live from the Winter Meetings in Nashville) After spending his entire career in Texas, Young projects to enter spring trai

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Phillies are "asking around" about free agent reliever Koji Uehara. Uehara, who turns 38 in April, posted a 1.75 ERA and 43/3 K/BB ratio over 36 innings this season with the Rangers many think he will get a two-year contract...

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that the Philadelphia Phillies are viewed as the favorites for Upton's services.  Keep in mind Upton received a qualifying offer from the Rays and therefore will require giving up a pick should the Phillies sign him...

Jonathan Papelbon doesn’t buy it. No matter the thought that formally designating a set-up man is crucial to a bullpen’s success, for how it creates roles and sets expectations that players — especially relief guys — can cozy up to, Papelbon isn’t even listening.

One of my favorite scenes in the move “Major League” is when general manager Charlie Donovan and one of the Indians Board members are trying to talk to to owner Rachel Phelps about the current state of the roster.

Michael Stutes is scheduled to begin a throwing program. Stutes had arthroscopic shoulder surgery in June and isn’t expected to return this season. The 25-year-old has been on the disabled since April 22 and should be medically cleared for spring training in February...

In spring training, the Phillies lack of depth was laughable. Really. Legitimate punch line. But if you look around, this club seems an awful lot like one with options. Behind the plate, they've got Carlos Ruiz and Erik Kratz, maybe Brian Schneider...