Myers out as changes begin

Whatever the Phillies decide to do, one thing is clear: The talented yet controversial Myers is not a part of their plans for the rotation - he went 68-57 with a 4.46 ERA in parts of eight seasons as a starter - or as a reliever, where he went 5-6 with a 3.38 ERA in 2007 and late this season. Myers filed for free-agency, along with righthander Pedro Martinez and infielder Miguel Cairo.

A first-round pick in 1999, Myers went 25-15 with a 3.81 ERA in 2005-06, but never reached the potential the organization saw when they promoted him to the majors in 2002 at age 21. His last 3 years have been marked by injuries and controversy. In 2006, he was arrested by Boston police after an altercation with his wife 2 nights before he was scheduled to start against the Red Sox. In 2007, he missed time with a shoulder strain, but saved 21 games after moving from the rotation to the bullpen. In 2008, he spent 3 weeks in the minor leagues after finishing June with a 5.84 ERA, but went 7-4 with a 3.06 ERA after the All-Star break and played a key role in the Phillies' World Series title.

This year, he had hip surgery in early June, but surprised the team by recovering in time to contribute as a reliever in September.

"I have a great amount of respect for him with the way he handled himself coming back, getting back off that hip injury," Amaro said on Comcast SportsNet's "Daily News Live." "It's tough when it's one of your own, but we felt like it was time to go in a different direction."

Amaro said he was comfortable with the five starters under control for next season. Lee and Cole Hamels are under contract, while righthander Joe Blanton is arbitration-eligible and should return. The team also projects lefthander J.A. Happ, who went 10-4 with a 2.99 ERA as a starter in his first full season in the majors, in its 2010 rotation. The Phillies could be in the market for a lower-level starter to compete with veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer, who lost his spot in the rotation in August and had surgery on his groin and lower abdomen last month, but is guaranteed roughly $8 million next season.

But don't expect them to court Angels free-agent ace John Lackey or show renewed interest in Toronto's Roy Halladay.

"With the way our club sets up, I would view that as unlikely," Amaro said. "You get Cole Hamels back to where he was, we've got a pretty unbelievable 1 and 2, I think."

Most of the team's efforts will center on the bench, the bullpen and third base. Amaro said yesterday the Phillies have until Monday to exercise Feliz' option. One of the top defensive third basemen in the game, the 34-year-old righthanded hitter finished 2009 with a career-best .308 on-base percentage, driving in 82 runs and hitting .336 with runners in scoring position. But he hit only .208 off lefthanders, increasing the vulnerability of a lineup that features lefty sluggers Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez.

The free-agent market is rife with both brand-name All-Star-caliber players (the Angels' Chone Figgins, the Mariners' Adrian Beltre, the Cardinals' Troy Glaus), as well as solid veteran infielders with a better track record of consistent offensive production (the Orioles' Melvin Mora, the Cardinals' Mark DeRosa, the Tigers' Placido Polanco). The Phillies have spent much of the past 2 days speaking with the representatives of such players to gauge their interest and potential contract demands (teams are allowed to have nonspecific discussions with potential free agents from other clubs, but may not engage in negotiations until the start of the signing period on Nov. 20).

Although the Phillies have $103.5 million committed to 12 players next season, with likely returnees Blanton, Shane Victorino and Carlos Ruiz arbitration-eligible, they have some flexibility over the next couple of seasons to offer a third baseman a multiyear deal. They have $71.5 million committed to seven players for 2011, and only one player under contract (Utley) for 2012.

"A lot of it depends on who is available and what the marketplace is going to look like," Amaro said. "We can't really start talking numbers and those sorts of things, but we can talk about length and talk about interest with some of these other guys. We'll try to keep our minds open, and we also have to look to the future here. The goal is to put ourselves in position to comeback and be one of the eight every year if we can . . . We have to be cognizant of some of the things we have to do as far as the future is concerned as well."

Amaro said the Phillies are interested in re-signing righthander Chan Ho Park, who posted a 2.52 ERA in 38 relief appearances. Lefthander Scott Eyre, who has said he might retire and who is facing arthroscopic elbow surgery, also is a candidate to return.

Lefthander J.C. Romero and righthanders Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge, who could be facing surgery similar to Eyre's but is expected to be healthy by spring training, are the only three relievers guaranteed money for 2011. Romero is recovering from elbow surgery that could sideline him until April. Righthanders Chad Durbin, Clay Condrey and Tyler Walker are all arbitration-eligible, although the Phillies could decide against offering them contracts.

There are players in the minor leagues who could vie for bullpen roles, including lefties Sergio Escalona, Antonio Bastardo and Mike Zagurski, all of whom have limited major league experience. But the Phillies likely would lean heavily on the free-agent market.

The same goes for the bench, where backup catcher Paul Bako is a free agent. They also would like to add a versatile infielder and a dependable righthanded hitter - perhaps one and the same - to a bench that includes the righty Ben Francisco and lefty Greg Dobbs. The team does not view Stairs as a preferable option, according to a source, although Amaro said on "Daily News Live" yesterday the team might offer him a minor league contract.

For more Phillies coverage and opinion, read

David Murphy's blog, High Cheese, at http://go.philly.com/highcheese.