Phillies Notes: Phillies complete Gload deal

The Phillies finalized yesterday the two-year, $2.6 million agreement reached last week with veteran pinch-hitter

Ross Gload.

Gload, 33, replaces Matt Stairs, and completes the team's overhaul of its bench. He joins outfielder Ben Francisco, infielders Greg Dobbs and Juan Castro, and catcher Brian Schneider.

Gload batted .261 with the Marlins last season, and led the major leagues with 31 pinch hits. His 15 pinch-hit RBIs were tied for the most in the major leagues.

In a nine-year career, Gload has the highest career batting average as a pinch-hitter among active players with at least 140 plate appearances (.300).

He also will provide his new team with more versatility than the defensively limited Stairs. Last year, Gload played first base, left field, and right field.

The Phillies sent two scouts to Houston yesterday to attend a showcase of Cuban pitcher

Aroldis Chapman,

according to a team source, but their interest in the lefthander was not believed to be serious.

The pitcher is expected to command about $15 million on the free-agent market, a price the Phils would not meet.

The Phillies added six people to their minor-league coaching staff: former major-leaguers

Lance Carter,

Steve Henderson,

Mark Parent,

Donnie Sadler,

and

Jorge Velandia,

and former major-league pitching coach

Chuck Hernandez.