Nevertheless, Lidge is the headliner, thanks to his shocking plummet from Team MVP in 2008 (41-for-41 in saves during the regular season with a 1.95 ERA) to liability in 2009 (11 blown saves, 7.21 ERA), as well as the $23 million owed to him over the next 2 years.
Lidge has said he is confident that arthroscopic surgeries on his knee and elbow have eliminated the problems that plagued him. More murkier are the situations facing Romero and Moyer.
Romero had surgery in early October to repair the flexor tendon in his pitching arm. A return to full strength could give the Phillies a pair of dynamic power lefties in the bullpen, Romero teaming with up-and-comer Antonio Bastardo. But Romero's surgery was more serious than Lidge's, and his timetable for recovery is more unclear. Missing upward of the first month of the season is not out of the question. And even when he returns, Romero will have to shake off the rust from his forgotten 2009 season, when he pitched just 16 2/3 innings thanks to a 50-game suspension for a positive performance-enhancing drug test and his frequent bouts with elbow pain.
Moyer is attempting to rebound from a hellish 5 months in which he had one surgery to repair torn tendons in his groin and abdomen, another to repair a meniscus, and was hospitalized two other times - one for a blood infection, another for recurring pain in his surgically repaired midsection.
Even if healthy, he isn't a lock for a roster spot.
2. Speaking of which, who is No. 5?
Judging by comments made by general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., who said he sees an Opening Day return as "aggressive" (read: unlikely), Moyer probably won't enter the season in the rotation. But there aren't a ton of options behind him: Righthander Kyle Kendrick, fresh off a season in the minors, is the front-runner. Fellow righty Andrew Carpenter also could contend, along with former Pirates starter Ryan Vogelsong.
