Garcia won't get to bat for Phils

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Phillies told Karim Garcia that he'd had a terrific spring. That they really appreciated the way he went about his business. That they loved how hard he worked.

And then they told him to pack his stuff because he'd been released.

In a significant surprise, the Phils took another step toward formulating their Opening Day roster yesterday morning with the announcement that the 31-year-old outfielder had been cut loose despite hitting .305. His 59 at-bats were tied for fourth-most on the team.

"For me, Karim is a guy who needs 250 to 300 at-bats. And the way our club is setting up, it just made it tough for us to keep him," manager Charlie Manuel said.

"I've known Karim for a long time [from when they were together in Cleveland] and it was hard for me to cut him. He had a pretty good spring. We wanted to make sure he had a chance to catch on with another club."

That's exactly what Garcia will try to do.

"My agent is talking to a lot of teams but, realistically, a lot of teams' rosters are set," he said. "I really didn't expect this, but I knew I was competing for a job. They gave me a great opportunity. You just do the best you can."

Said assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.: "He did a helluva job for us. We loved his effort and he was very professional. We just felt for our club that some other guys had stepped forward."

Garcia was in camp as a nonroster player with an agreement that if he wasn't added to the active roster by April 1 he would be granted his release. If he had made the team, he would have earned $700,000.

Garcia spent the last two seasons in Japan. He said he wouldn't rule out going back overseas. He also said he was open to taking a job at Triple A Ottawa if no better offers surfaced.

The Phillies are still uncertain which players will have to open the season on the disabled list, and continue to scan the waiver wires and pursue possible trades. However, at the moment, it appears that 24 of the 25 roster spots are locked up.

Disabled list (4): Righthanders Freddy Garcia, Jon Lieber and Scott Mathieson, catcher-infielder Chris Coste.

There has been no announcement that Garcia (biceps tendinitis) will open on the DL, but Adam Eaton is lined up to pitch the third game of the season. The Phillies won't need a fifth starter until April 8. Garcia can be backdated 10 days from April 1, so there's no reason to activate him until then.

The team has also been mum on Lieber (pulled ribcage muscle). But Manuel conceded it "doesn't seem possible" that he could be ready when the season opens Monday at Citizens Bank Park against the Braves.

Pitchers (11): starters Brett Myers, Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer and Eaton; Tom Gordon, Ryan Madson, Geoff Geary, Antonio Alfonseca, Matt Smith, Clay Condrey and Zack Segovia in the bullpen.

Segovia will apparently make the team as a hedge that Garcia still won't be ready to pitch April 8. Rule 5 draft pick Jim Ed Warden cleared waivers yesterday. He was offered back to the Cleveland Indians, who paid $25,000 (half what it cost the Phillies to select him) to get him back.

Catchers (2): Rod Barajas, Carlos Ruiz.

The Phillies believe that Ruiz (sore shoulder) should be ready for the opener but that Coste will not.

Infielders (6): Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Wes Helms, Abraham Nunez, Greg Dobbs.

Dobbs, who can also play the outfield, apparently beat out Garcia as the lefthanded bat off the bench by batting .389 with four homers and 15 RBI.

Outfielders (5): Pat Burrell, Aaron Rowand, Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth, Michael Bourn.

The intrigue is that Bourn, a highly regarded prospect, will apparently start the season as a role player in the big leagues rather than play every day at Triple A Ottawa. One of his duties in that capacity would be to act as Pat Burrell's late-inning defensive replacement, even though he's played mostly center and right.

"I think left is my weakest spot, but I'll get used to it quick," Bourn said. "Just give me a couple games."

That still leaves one spot to be filled. It could go to a 12th pitcher or an extra position player, although there are no obvious candidates at the moment.

Or it's possible that the player or pitcher hasn't been acquired yet. *