Inside the Phillies: Good arms are scarce as Phils look for help

"You can't always get what you want . . . but if you try sometimes, well you just might find you get what you need."

- The Rolling Stones
CHICAGO - What so many Phillies fans wanted, a starting rotation with Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, never came to pass, and it really does not matter why anymore.

What the Phillies need is help, and that is what matters.

The July 31 trade deadline is less than two weeks away, and a fourth straight postseason berth is in serious jeopardy if the Phillies do not make some significant pitching changes.

Here's the trickiest question for general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and his team of scouts: Which available pitchers represent the sort of upgrade needed to make the Phillies good enough to get back to the World Series?

Amaro acknowledged at the start of the Phillies' four-game series against the Chicago Cubs that this year's starting rotation is better than last year's starting rotation at the trade deadline, and that was even after they added veteran Pedro Martinez to the mix.

This Phillies rotation, at least in terms of earned run average, was the best at the all-star break during manager Charlie Manuel's six seasons.

"We're in better shape overall because Cole [Hamels] is pitching like Cole can pitch and last year going in Cole was our No. 1 starter," Amaro said. "Our number one starter right now is Roy Halladay, and Cole is pitching like a No. 1 starter, too. But you can never have enough depth."

With the rotation as currently constructed, the Phillies do not have enough depth. The team's first-half 3.95 ERA is both unspectacular and deceptive. Take away Halladay's 19 starts and 2.19 ERA and the ERA for the remaining starters is 4.57.

When asked if his starters were good enough to get the Phillies back to the postseason for a fourth straight time Thursday, Manuel flatly said, "I don't know." That's tantamount to a call for help from a manager who tries his best never to criticize his players.

Again, the major issue is acquiring a pitcher who represents a significant upgrade over Jamie Moyer, Joe Blanton, and Kyle Kendrick, the three starters who pitch behind Halladay and Hamels.

"We'll be watching all the pitching that is available and we'll continue to monitor pretty much all of them," Amaro said. "I'll be frank with you: Trades are very difficult to make."

Here's a look at some pitchers that figure to be available in the next two weeks, with a verdict on whether they'd be an upgrade over what the Phillies have:

With Lee in a Texas Rangers uniform, the Astros' righthander is the grand prize among available pitchers. He has this season, next season, and a club option of $16 million for 2012 remaining on his contract. He would help any team, but former Phillies general manager Ed Wade is not going to give him away, and the fact that the Phillies' best prospects are in single-A makes a deal unlikely.

Verdict: Major upgrade.

The last-place Diamondbacks are no doubt willing to listen to trade offers for Haren, who has two years at $25.5 million remaining on his contract beyond this year as well as a $15.5 million option for 2013. The price in terms of players will also be steep.

Verdict: A significant upgrade.

Yes, he's still out there, but what would be the point? He's a future Hall of Famer who did a fine job during his brief stint with the Phillies last season. On the other hand, he averaged fewer than five innings per start and he was not good enough to make them World Series champions.

Verdict: Not an upgrade.

The former Phillies righthander signed a one-year, $3.1 million deal with a mutual option for $8 million in 2011. His 3.41 ERA through 18 starts with Houston would be the second-best mark in the Phillies' rotation. For the right price, he could help the Phillies, but it's unlikely the team would make this move.

Verdict: An upgrade.

The Phillies got a firsthand look at the Cubs' veteran lefty Friday and managed just four hits and three runs against him. A free agent after this season, Lilly is younger than Jamie Moyer and has pitched better than Blanton. The price should not be too high.

Verdict: Minor upgrade.

The former Phillies righthander can be a free agent after this season.

Verdict: No upgrade.

He's pitching a lot like Blanton right now, and the Phillies already have Blanton.

Verdict: No upgrade.

He's the weakest of the Yankees' starters and has been inconsistent most of his career.

Verdict: No upgrade.

Perhaps the best answer for the Phillies' pitching staff is to get last year's 12-game winner and National League rookie of the year runner-up back on track. Right now, however, Happ isn't even the best pitcher on the IronPigs' staff.

Verdict: Not an upgrade right now.