But it appears that their heavy lifting is complete.

Yesterday, they signed free-agent outfielder Geoff Jenkins to a two-year contract worth $13 million and free-agent righthander Chad Durbin to a one-year contract worth $900,000.

Jenkins has a $7.5 million option for 2010 that automatically vests based on 925 plate appearances in 2008-09 or 525 plate appearances in 2009. If that option does not vest, the Phillies and Jenkins still hold a mutual option for a third season.

"This is going to be a good fit for me," said Jenkins, 33, who batted .255 for the Milwaukee Brewers last season. "Who doesn't like hitting in this ballpark?"

The Phillies expect Jenkins to play both corner outfield positions. He may potentially find himself in a platoon situation in right field with Jayson Werth and spelling Pat Burrell in left. They also expect Jenkins to replace some of the offensive production lost when centerfielder Aaron Rowand signed with the San Francisco Giants.

Jenkins had a career-high 34 home runs and 94 RBIs in 2000 for Milwaukee, and he sees no reason why he can't replicate those numbers at homer-friendly Citizens Bank Park surrounded by Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Burrell.

Durbin, who made 19 starts and 17 relief appearances last season for the Detroit Tigers, will compete for the fifth starter's job but could find himself in the bullpen. He went 8-7 with a 4.72 ERA last season. He is 25-37 with a 5.75 ERA in his career.

The 30-year-old Durbin said he preferred to start, but he will take whatever role is given to him.

The Phillies have said for weeks that they want to add another starting pitcher before spring training. General manager Pat Gillick said yesterday that adding another starter after signing Durbin was "more unlikely than likely."

Is he comfortable with the rotation the way it is?

"We're more comfortable than we were," Gillick said. "I think Chad Durbin is going to fit in real well."

So the rotation looks like this: Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Kyle Kendrick, Jamie Moyer and Adam Eaton. Durbin and Travis Blackley, whom the Phils selected earlier this month in the Rule 5 draft from the Giants, also are expected to compete for a starter's job.

Eaton finished last season with right-shoulder problems, but Gillick said he was recovering well and should be ready to pitch.

"It's a competitive situation," he said. "We might have two or three people in the mix. It gives options to [manager] Charlie [Manuel] and [pitching coach Rich] Dubee."

Gillick said free-agent righthander Kyle Lohse was not on the radar. After making 11 starts for the team in 2007, Lohse is seeking a multiyear contract, and the Phillies are not comfortable with that.

He also said the Phils had cooled on free-agent righthander Kris Benson, whom they watched throw Monday in Arizona. They could get a better read on Benson's health in February, Gillick said.

The Phillies have little or no interest in other injured free-agent pitchers still available, such as Mark Prior, Bartolo Colon and Matt Clement.

Gillick said the Phils were "more unlikely than likely" to add a third baseman before spring training, which means Wes Helms and Greg Dobbs will be handling most of the duties, along with utility infielder Eric Bruntlett.

He said the Phils continued to talk about finding another relief pitcher, preferably a lefthander.

Does Gillick think the 2008 team is better than last season's?

"Well, Rowand had a great year last year," Gillick said. "He had a career year. He did a lot of things for us last year. We'll just have to wait and see. With the addition of [reliever Brad] Lidge and putting [Brett] Myers back into the rotation, I like our starting rotation probably better than at the end of the year, but we'll just have to wait and see."

Read his blog at http://go.philly.com/zozone.