Phillies only have about 10-15 million to spend.

Todd Zolecki reports that the Phillies only have around 10-15 million to spend.

The Phillies have committed more than $68.5 million next season to Pat Burrell ($14 million), Brett Myers ($8.5 million), Jimmy Rollins ($8 million), Adam Eaton ($7.6 million), Chase Utley ($7.5 million), Jamie Moyer ($5.5 million), Tom Gordon ($5.5 million), J.C. Romero ($3.75 million), and Wes Helms ($2.1 million). That number includes $6 million still owed to long-departed Jim Thome.

The Phillies have six players eligible for salary arbitration: Ryan Howard, Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, Jayson Werth, Julio Mateo and Eric Bruntlett. Those six could push the payroll to more than $88 million.

Then there are the salaries for Shane Victorino, Cole Hamels, Kyle Kendrick, Greg Dobbs, Carlos Ruiz and Chris Coste. Figure their salaries plus other players with little service time and the payroll jumps into the mid-$90 million range. Give or take a couple million.

So unless the Phillies ownership gives Amaro, Jr. and Gillick the green light to go over budget, we should only expect a few more moves and it looks like they'll be in the forms of pitching. Such forms may be guys like Bartolo Colon and Randy Wolf where they can offer them incentive laden deals, generally low risk, high reward type deals.

Also, it is reported that the Phillies plan to look into Japanese free agents: Starter Hiroki Kuroda and relievers Masahide Kobayashi and Kazou Fukumori.

Do not expect anymore trades for pitching as the only guy left valuable to move is Shane Victorino and the Phillies should not come close to considering moving any of their minor league players, .ie Carrasco, Outman, Mathieson, Savery and so forth.

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Phillies near deal with JC Romero

According to Todd Zolecki of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies close to a deal with free agent reliever JC Romero.

The Phillies bolstered their rotation and bullpen yesterday when they acquired Brad Lidge from the Houston Astros for Michael Bourn, Geoff Geary and Mike Costanzo.

The move makes Lidge the Phillies' closer next season. It also returns Brett Myers to the rotation.

But The Inquirer has learned that the Phillies also are close to a multi-year deal with left-handed relief pitcher J.C. Romero.

An announcement could come as early as today. If an agreement is reached and Romero returns to the Phillies' bullpen, the back end of the bullpen next season would include Lidge, Romero, Tom Gordon and Ryan Madson.

But the Phillies might not be finished improving their pitching yet. They still would like to find another starter, if possible. They need depth at that spot, especially because Adam Eaton is having shoulder issues. He recently had a MRI, but the Phillies don't feel surgery will be required.

Thus far, Pat Gillick is sticking to his word to improve pitching.

Also, the Daily News reports that the Phillies are looking at Japanese starting pitcher, Hiroki Kuroda.

It's logical to assume there will be vigorous bidding for Kuroda, who was 12-8 with a 3.56 earned run average for the Carp last season. He led Japan's Central League with a 1.85 earned run average in 2006 and has 74 complete games in 244 career starts.

He would be particularly attractive since, unlike Daisuke Matsuzaka, he would not require a posting fee; Boston paid the Seibu Lions $51 million just for the rights to negotiate with Dice-K last winter. Also, the team that signs him would not have to give up a compensatory draft choice.

Below is the only video I could find of him.

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