Ruben Amaro Confirms Everyone’s Worst Nightmare: “We’re Done Making Moves”

Get ready for lots more John Mayberry in 2013, guys. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

You know that potential jumble of less-than-stellar options the Phillies currently have masquerading as a professional outfield?

Yeah, that’s gonna happen.

Ruben Amaro went ahead and confirmed everyone’s worst nightmare on Monday, saying what everyone has already started to accept as reality, even though they didn’t want to.

"“We’re likely going with what we’ve got.”"

And with that, an entire city wept.

What the Phils have is some combination of Darin Ruf, John Mayberry, Ben Revere, Laynce Nix and Domonic Brown manning an outfield that appears to be less-than-playoff caliber as spring training approaches just one month from now.

"“There’s some risk in going with a possible double platoon or letting the guys we have battle it out for playing time,” Amaro said. “There are some advantages to that, as well. The best-man-wins type of scenario can be created and likely will be created in spring training. At the same time, a lot of these guys are not proven everyday major-league players. But that doesn’t mean they cannot become them.”"

Unfortunately, that’s exactly the scenario the Phils were counting on in 2010 with Ben Francisco and in 2011 with Mayberry. Neither situation worked out well.

And while it’s possible the Phils could still add another small piece, perhaps someone like Scott Hairston, any move made now likely will not be an impact move.

That includes trades for Vernon Wells and Alfonso Soriano.

Amaro admitted there is still some payroll to play with, in the neighborhood of $7-8 million for this year. However, given the garbage that is out there, Amaro may just be correct in thinking that money could be better spent at the trade deadline in July.

"“If there is a player that is better who we feel could help us now, we’ll utilize our resources to get him,” Amaro said. “If there isn’t, then we may be better served to hold on a see what we could do during the year.”"

Having $7-8 million in his pocket could enable Amaro to land the big fish later that is either overpriced or unavailable right now.

Still, with the Nationals and Braves looking like contenders once again this year, and with a pitching staff that still has some question marks, a Phillies outfield of Ruf, Brown, Revere, Mayberry and Nix is not exactly the most confidence-inspring prospect in the world.

Regardless, Amaro has finally admitted what has seemed obvious to everyone for the last few weeks.

What you see now is what you’re going to get on April 1.

Whether it’s enough to compete for a highly competitive NL East crown remains to be seen.