Just chillin at sixer game with Raul ibanez #nbd twitter.com/brendanRhodes2…

— Brendan Rhodes (@brendanRhodes23) December 16, 2012

Allow for a few seconds of hysteria, if you will.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN??? IS RAUL COMING BACK??? IT’S NOT POSSIBLE THAT HE CAN COME BACK INTO TOWN IF HE’S NOT GOING TO SIGN A CONTRACT, RIGHT??? RUBEN… NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Of course, it’s entirely possible Ibanez was back in Philadelphia simply to watch the Sixers play the Lakers.

Yeah, and it’s possible there really is a Bigfoot, too.

But with the presence of Ibanez and the lack of palatable everyday options for the Phils in the outfield, the chorus seems to grow ever-louder that the team may look to a platoon solution.

And the addition of players like Ibanez and Scott Hairston of the Mets would seem to make sense if that is the direction the Phillies are planning on going.

It’s pretty clear now Ruben Amaro has no interest in giving up the #16 pick in the draft for five years of Nick Swisher. And despite reports that the Phils have ramped up their pursuit of Cody Ross, it’s possible Amaro doesn’t really want to spend big dollars on a slightly above-average player when he can get close to Ross’ production from a series of cheap platoons.

The Phils already have John Mayberry, Jr., Darin Ruf, Laynce Nix, and Domonic Brown as corner outfield possibilities. While none of those names are particularly sexy, it does leave the Phillies with a lot of options should they decide to go the platoon route.

If the Phils were to sign Hairston and Ibanez, for example, the Phils could go with a Hairston/Brown platoon in right field, and a Ruf/Ibanez platoon in left. Or, the Phils could decide to let Mayberry platoon with Brown in right and have Ruf platoon with Ibanez or Nix in left.

It feels like he never left. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Mixing and matching outfield lineups worked well for the Phils back in 1993, when they platooned Milt Thompson and Pete Incaviglia in left and Wes Chamberlain and Jim Eisenreich in right. The Oakland A’s did it with great success last year.

Signing Hariston and/or Ibanez wouldn’t be sexy, but it would be cost effective, giving the Phillies payroll flexibility at the trade deadline to upgrade if need be.

The preference, of course, would be for RAJ to find a powerful right-handed bat to take over right field, allowing the Phils to platoon Ruf and Brown in left. But that impact bat just may not be out there.

If the alternative is a four or five-year deal for Cody Ross at close to $10 million, platooning the corner outfield positions may not be the worst idea ever.

Even if it means bringing 52-year-old Raul Ibanez back into the fold.

• Shane Victorino landed in Boston, part of a franchise movement to once more fill their roster with scrappy, spitfire players who applaud frantically after reaching base on a close play.  After being weighed at about $6-7 million, Shane naturally will receive $39 million from the Red Sox over the course of three years, setting the financial bar for Hawaiian-born professional ball players.
• 

  “What… are… you…?” Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

  The painful secret of his Angels fandom was difficult to stifle while in Philly, but Ryan Madson, recovering from a year off with pal Tommy John, is finally able to reveal his horrible true self to the world.  Mad Dog and the Halos reached a one-year agreement worth $3.5 million, with the ability to double that figure by finishing games and staying healthy. A deal undoubtedly concocted by his agent Scott Boras, who may have had trouble handling the paper work with such long, sinister finger nails.  And we forgive him for the “Angels fan” thing.  We all know where Mike Trout’s heart really lies.

• Joe Blanton spent a lot of 2012 wondering how he was going to get out of a jam.  Naturally, he will spend 2013 wondering what to do with his millions upon millions of dollars.  I mean, Joe Blanton is getting paid $15 million over two years for the Angels.  Joe Blanton!  $15 million!!  What the hell!  Are we living in a shadow world?!  Our mayor is hanging out with Big Bird on a Chinese playground, Tibetan monks are setting themselves on fire in record numbers, and the Angels are giving Joe Blanton $15 million to start for them.  As a pitcher.
• The Phillies, desperate for outfielders, let one of their better outfielders go, and now he’s going to waste a year playing for the Cubs.
• The Phillies, now even more desperate for outfielders, are now in possible hot pursuit of Michael Bourn and Raul Ibanez.  One is one of the top names on the market, capable of leading off, and if the current offseason deals are any indication, he is going to be paid a ludicrous amount of money to do so.  The other is a real swell guy.

So, yeah.  A lot of former Phils are assured of at least fairly decent futures.  Which is more than they can say for a lot of the current Phils.

Sep 28, 2012; Toronto, ON, Canada; New York Yankees first baseman Nick Swisher (33) during their game against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. The Yankees beat the Blue Jays 11-4. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

With the outfield market getting slimmer and slimmer by the day, the Phillies have few options left to fill holes in center and right field. Two players who played with the Yankees last season may be on the Phillies radar. Nick Swisher has been a name that has been loosely linked to the Phillies, but now looks like it may be more likely than originally thought.

Jim Bowden of ESPN.com tweeted that Swisher’s most likely destinations are Philadelphia, Seattle and Cleveland. Swisher could add an immediate source of power to the Phillies lineup and could fit either behind Howard or possibly even bat second. Swisher hit. 272 with 24 home runs and 93 RBIs last season.

Another rumor began today involving the Phillies and a free agent outfielder, this one was more of a surprise. Raul Ibanez left the Phillies after the 2011 season to join the Yankees for one year, now the 40 year old is a free agent and could possibly be returning to Philly.

Ibanez played in 130 games last year with the Yankees and hit .240 with 19 home runs. However he will be remembered in New York for his clutch home run hitting during the ALDS and ALCS last season.

Ibanez was a fan favorite during his time in Philly and some fans may be excited to see him return. The issue with Ibanez is that he is now 40 years old, but showed last year he may still have some power off the bench.

Either way, Ruben Amaro may need to forget his patient ways and make a move before there are no options left.