The Phillies began the week with a list of goals that looked something like this:
Re-sign lefthander Jamie Moyer.
Solve the puzzle in left field.
Find another arm for the bullpen.
Tinker from there.
Second baseman Chase Utley could miss four to six months after surgery next week on his right hip, and third baseman Pedro Feliz may need eight to 12 weeks to recuperate from yesterday's lower-back surgery, but that hasn't changed what the team hopes to accomplish this off-season.
The Phillies sounded optimistic yesterday that Utley, who will have the surgery in New York, would miss a minimal portion of the season, certainly not enough to force the Phillies to look for a long-term solution at second base.
That means they won't be making any phone calls to Orlando Hudson, the top free-agent second baseman on the market.
The Phils instead will be looking at a couple of internal solutions. Eric Bruntlett filled in for shortstop Jimmy Rollins early this season when Rollins spent time on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle. Bruntlett could do the same with Utley at second base. Shortstop Jason Donald, one of the organization's top prospects, is hitting .407 in the Arizona Fall League and also could see time at second base.
The Phillies had kicked around the idea of adding a utility infielder before they scheduled Utley for surgery. Free agents such as Nick Punto, who played for the Phillies from 2001 to 2003, and Damion Easley would make sense.
"I think we have coverage with Bruntlett and with the emergence of Donald," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "That does not mean that we won't look to add, but I think if we were to open the season today without Chase . . . we're covered fairly well.
"You don't necessarily replace an Utley, but at the same time we really feel . . . he's going to be fairly close to ready, if not ready, by opening day. A lot of it depends on how the rehab goes, how the surgery goes. This is not an exact science. But we fully expect to have Chase Utley with us for the bulk of the season, so I'd have to say, frankly, as far as how we go about our business with our club, it probably won't change significantly."
The Phillies sound as if they expect Feliz to be on the field at some point in spring training, too. So don't expect them to run out to find a third baseman, either. Greg Dobbs played at third last season. Bruntlett and Donald also can play there.
