"We'd like to add more pitching, if it's possible," Ruben Amaro Jr., the Phillies' assistant general manager, said yesterday at Bright House Field.

Rule 5 draft pick Travis Blackley cleared out his locker yesterday, but for the moment he remains with the organization. The Phillies also reassigned lefthander Vic Darensbourg and righthander Gary Knotts to minor-league camp. That leaves the Phils with just 11 healthy pitchers in camp, and one of them is righthander J.D. Durbin, who is 0-4 with a 12.33 ERA (eight home runs in 151/3 innings) in Grapefruit League play.

"There are still some things we can do with some of the guys we've got around here," manager Charlie Manuel said.

The Phillies had selected Blackley from the San Francisco Giants. If he clears waivers, Blackley can accept a triple-A assignment from either team or become a free agent.

The Phils must finalize their 25-man roster no later than 3 p.m. Sunday, and they might need every minute to make a move. They waited until the final day in 2006, when they acquired outfielder David Dellucci from the Texas Rangers.

"At this time of the year, everybody is trying to do the same thing," Amaro said. "There's a lot of shifting with rosters and stuff, so we'll see."

The Phillies have 27 players in camp: two catchers, eight infielders, six outfielders and 11 pitchers.

They have not decided whether they want to open the season with 11 or 12 pitchers. If they add a pitcher and open with 12, that means Durbin could make the team, but neither outfielder Chris Snelling nor infielder Wes Helms, who are fighting for a bench job, would.

If the Phillies find another pitcher and carry just 11, Durbin could be out and the Phillies would have to decide between Snelling and Helms. Snelling is considered a slight favorite with five days to go before Monday's season opener against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park.

But Manuel made this much clear about his roster: "It's not set yet."

Even if the Phillies open the season with 11 pitchers, that could be for just four games. Closer Brad Lidge could return from the disabled list April 5 in Cincinnati.

Is Manuel concerned?

"I'm concerned with the middle of our bullpen," Manuel said. "I'd like to have our pitching staff completely set. But, hell, I don't know if that's ever going to happen. But I like the back end of our bullpen. I think we're ready to start the season."

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