[Phils20]

Jan. 24 -- EATON OUT | 12:13 PM



BY SCOTT LAUBER

Adam Eaton watched the playoffs, even the World Series, from his couch. He wasn't invited to the Phillies' championship parade. And, now, he isn't even a candidate for the up-for-grabs No. 5 spot in the starting rotation.

"It's a four-man competition, and he's not involved in that," Ruben Amaro Jr. said a few minutes ago at Citizens Bank Park. "Is it possible that Eaton pitches well enough to put himself in the mix? You never know what's going to happen. Right now, we just think those other four guys [Chan Ho Park, J.A. Happ, Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco] give us a better opportunity to win."

But what about the $8.5 million that Eaton will make in 2009?

Eaton is expected to report to spring training next month, but the Phillies undoubtedly will try to trade him (they've been shopping him all winter). Even then, though, they'll likely have to assume most of his salary. During the winter meetings, one source said the Phillies' asking price for Eaton was merely $1 million of salary relief. If they're unable to find a taker, they'll most likely release Eaton, which will make them responsible for his entire salary less the nearly $400,000 major-league minimum.

***
Other notes from this morning's media availability:

--Chase Utley says it's "very realistic" that he'll be ready for opening day. Utley, who underwent right hip surgery in late November, has been doing a five-day rehab program that includes running on an underwater treadmill. He expects to begin running and swinging a bat in 2-3 weeks in Clearwater. "It's about listening to my body," Utley said. "Right now, we are listening, and it's responding well."

--During the World Series, embattled reliever J.C. Romero confided in Brad Lidge about the arbitration hearings to determine if he'd be suspended for testing positive for a substance banned by Major League Baseball. That's significant because Amaro said most Phillies front-office personnel wasn't aware of the hearing, which is confidential. "I was thinking this is remarkable that he's able to perform at his highest level despite all the crap that was happening to him," Lidge said. Lidge's opinion on Romero's 50-game suspension: "I don't think he should've been suspended at all," he said. "He really wanted to make sure he was doing nothing wrong."

More on this, and other Phillies-related stuff, in Sunday's News Journal.

[njpsufan]

The fact that teams will not even want to pay Eaton $1M just shows how bad he is. Think we will eat this one. Someone will then pick him up for league minimum just to kick the tires. Think this goes down as one of the worse FA signings in history.

[Phils20]

Indeed he was. But I think the team at least saw this and put him where he belonged, on the bench!

I'm glad they quit giving him chances.

[njpsufan]

Yes. In years past they just would have kept running him out there making things worse...think Floyd Youmans. I was reading how the Phils have 2 very good young OF, rank in the second half of the top 100 prospects. Guess they are hoping one of them will be the LF of the future. I still think Howard gets trade after this year. Donald will get a good look at 2B. If it looks like he can handle it then Utley is going to 1B and we trade feast or famine for a bunch of prospects.... Boston has a well stocked farm system.