Phillies still in running for RHP Maine

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Phillies remain a potential landing spot for former Mets righthander John Maine, his agent confirmed today, but it is unclear whether a deal between the two sides is likely.

Phillies officials have watched Maine, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, throw this offseason and are willing to offer him a minor league deal.

But Maine could very well find another organization that offers a more obvious path to a major league job. The Phillies currently have five starters under contract, with righthanders Kyle Kendrick and Vance Worley leading the depth chart should an injury or trade occur.

"In the next day or two, John is going to make a decision," said Rex Gary, who is Maine's agent. "The Phillies have watched him a lot. A lot of teams have. John is a smart guy and he's going to take a lot of things into consideration."

From 2007 to 2008, Maine went 25-18 with a 4.02 ERA while averaging 8.2 strikeouts and 3.9 walks per nine innings. He logged 331 innings in 57 starts in those two seasons, but has logged just 121 innings in 24 starts in the two years since. Last year, he went 1-3 with a 6.13 ERA in nine starts before undergoing season-ending arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Any contract would likely include an opt-out that allows Maine to become a free agent if he is not on the active roster by a certain date.

Maine turns 30 years old on May 8. A sixth-round pick of the Orioles in 2002, he was rated the No. 54 prospect in the game by Baseball America prior to the 2004 season. His best season came in 2007, when he went 15-10 with a 3.91 ERA with 180 strikeouts and 75 walks in 191 innings.

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