Phillies Notebook: Phillies, Romero reach deal

Now, if only he can throw strikes.

The Phillies have once again claimed J.C. Romero from the discount section of the Veteran Lefty Reliever aisle. A baseball source tonight confirmed a CSNPhilly.com report that Romero, a free agent, agreed to a 1-year deal. Terms were not available.

The Phillies originally signed Romero, 34, to a minor league contract in 2007 after the Red Sox and the rest of the league determined that Romero walked too many batters. He arrived in Philadelphia with a renewed sense of aggressiveness and helped the Phillies to the playoffs in 2007 and, after re-signing with the team after that season, to a World Series title in 2008.

Romero made $9 million the past two seasons with the Phillies. He began the 2009 season with a 50-game suspension for using a banned substance during the 2008 season, then pitched in just 21 games in 2009 as he battled injury.

He pitched in 60 games in 2010, going 1-0 with a 3.68 earned-run average.

In each of the past two seasons he walked one more batter than he struck out.

Romero is the consolation prize after the Phillies' deal with Dennys Reyes fell apart less than 2 weeks ago, right about the time Reyes was scheduled to take his physical.

Romero rejoins lefty relievers Antonio Bastardo and Mike Zagurski on the Phillies' 40-man roster, along with Sergio Escalona. *