Amaro's trade priority is starters

Twenty-five days remain until the trade deadline, so naturally, Ruben Amaro Jr. is keeping his options open - at least publicly.

The Phillies' general manager met with reporters for about 15 minutes before Tuesday's game and covered a wide range of topics regarding possible moves his third-place club could make.

Amaro is looking for starting pitching, first and foremost. The infield is wounded without Chase Utley and Placido Polanco - and Amaro has had talks with various clubs about acquiring infielders. But his priority is pitching.

"For me, it would be pitching, pitching," Amaro said. "I know we're going to get our infielders back."

So if pitching is always a priority, why was Cliff Lee traded in the off-season?

"If we had Cliff Lee," Amaro said, "we wouldn't have Roy Halladay."

Amaro repeated the same sentiment he has since the two trades involving aces were made. The farm system needed to be replenished, Amaro said. And the Phillies had a chance to lock up one player (Halladay) while the other (Lee) wasn't close to an agreement on a contract. Lee, now with Seattle, is back on the market but a long shot to be reacquired by the Phils.

"Time and circumstance dictate some of the things you can and cannot do," Amaro said of moving Lee.

If the cupboard was bare in the off-season, do the Phillies have enough minor-league talent to use in a trade this time around?

"I think we do," Amaro said.

Still, the GM is open to trading a player who is on the major-league roster.

"Obviously I don't want to weaken my club," Amaro said. "But if I have to weaken one area to strengthen another, then I might do that."

Ostensibly, Amaro is vaguely referring to his outfield, which contains two players who could be potential targets for other clubs: Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino. Amaro would not mention any player by name.

Werth can be a free agent at season's end. Victorino signed a three-year, $22 million extension in the off-season.

Amaro said he would consider all options. Last season, he wasn't as direct about the possibility of trading someone from the roster.

The Phillies reportedly have floated the idea of trading Werth to assess his value on the market.

"I don't talk about rumors," Amaro said. "I don't talk about players, and I don't talk about rumors."

So is it by coincidence that Amaro said top prospect Domonic Brown could help the Phillies in 2010? In 12 games for triple-A Lehigh Valley since his promotion, the outfielder was hitting .405 (17 for 42) with three doubles, four home runs, and 11 RBIs.

All year, the Phillies have been mum on the possibility of Brown's contributing at the major-league level this season.

On Tuesday, Amaro would not debunk the idea.

"Could he help us? Possibly," Amaro said. "But it's only been 12 games. He's making a good impression."

Amaro said he would consider bringing Brown up only if he could play every day at the major-league level. The only way that happens in 2010 is if either Werth or Victorino is traded or the struggling Raul Ibanez is benched. Ibanez, who has one year left on a three-year, $31.5 million contract, would be difficult to move in a trade.

Would Brown, 22, be in over his head at the major-league level?

"You don't know that until he's here," Amaro said. "I don't know. I don't think so. I don't think he'd be over his head, but being over your head and being a productive major-league player are two different things."

If the Phillies acquire infield help, it could be either a second or third baseman. That's because Amaro expects Polanco (left triceps tendinitis) to be back within two or three weeks. Polanco, who won a Gold Glove at second base in 2009, can play both positions. It offers the Phillies some flexibility.

One possible trade partner remains the Baltimore Orioles, who again had a scout at Tuesday's Phillies game against the Braves. Baltimore has infielders Ty Wigginton and Miguel Tejada, along with pitcher Jeremy Guthrie. All three could be of interest to the Phils.

"We've talked to several clubs on many different fronts, not just addressing that particular issue," Amaro said of acquiring infield help. "We've talked to a lot of clubs about some other possibilities, too. We're pretty proactive. Trades are not easy."