The Phillies did get a little bit healthier before they opened the second half of the season Thursday night against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Reliever Chad Durbin became the latest player to return from the disabled list, marking the first time the Phillies' bullpen has been at full strength since the season started.
"When we were putting the team together, that's what we lined up," manager Charlie Manuel said.
Durbin's return came at the expense of righthander Nelson Figueroa, who was designated for assignment. The Phillies have 10 days to dispose of his contract, but they are hoping he clears waivers and accepts an assignment to triple-A Lehigh Valley.
"It was tough because he pitched so well for us," Amaro said. "But we have some guys we'd like to keep under control, and some other guys have pitched well and didn't necessarily deserve to go."
Manuel broke the news to Figueroa on Wednesday. The veteran righthander later expressed his disappointment in the form of a an e-mail, Manuel said.
"It was pretty hard," Manuel said. "I understand exactly how Figgy feels. Figgy has pitched good and he did a good job for us and he worked hard to be in the big leagues."
Figueroa, 36, went 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA in 13 appearances, including a scoreless string of 81/3 innings in his final five appearances.
"You fall into a numbers thing," Manuel said. "Sometimes you just have to make a decision."
In this case, the Phillies' decision was to keep righthander David Herndon, a Rule 5 draft choice who is only 24 years old. Herndon is 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA.
"He's been doing pretty good and he has a high ceiling," Manuel said when asked about Herndon, who will move into the long reliever role.
Durbin, who had been on the disabled list since June 24 with a strained right hamstring, pitched three perfect innings during his two-game rehabilitation assignment with single-A Clearwater. He said he had no lingering problems with his hamstring.
