Lidge, 35, has spent the winter working out at Citizens Bank Park. His agent, Rex Gary, said the Phillies kept Lidge involved in discussions the entire time. But there was no match.
Instead, the Phillies will trust the young arms in the bullpen, now led by Jonathan Papelbon. The Phillies are optimistic Jose Contreras can provide another veteran presence in the bullpen, but the Cuban righthander only recently began light throwing and will be limited in spring training. Contreras underwent elbow surgery in September.
If the 40-year-old Contreras flames out again, Manuel said, the manager was content with relying on less-experienced pitchers.
"We have some question marks in our bullpen," Manuel said. "But at the same time, we always have one or two guys a year that come into their own and they throw better than they usually have. Right now, I'm not really concerned about all that."
The Phillies had never publicly ruled out a return for Lidge, who finished a three-year, $37.5 million contract. All things being equal, Lidge said he would choose Philadelphia over other offers. That option never presented itself.
Questions regarding Lidge's health will be what terminated the relationship. He began 2011 as the closer only to feel pain in his right shoulder during a Grapefruit League game March 24. He didn't pitch again until July 25. Limited to 191/3 innings last season, Lidge did post a 1.40 ERA. But he stranded 90 percent of runners, an unsustainable rate, while experiencing an even further dip in fastball velocity.
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said the team's medical staff examined Lidge's shoulder with an enhanced MRI exam. He pitched with a partially torn rotator cuff last season.
