What Platoon?

So much for the platoon at the hot corner. After weeks of speculation, the Phillies and third baseman Pedro Feliz agreed to a two-year, $8.5 million deal that could be worth as much as $15 million over three years.

Phillies fans can’t complain about this move as GM Pat Gillick filled what many perceived to be the only real weakness in the Phillies lineup. Feliz, 33, averaged 22 home runs and 84 RBI with San Francisco over the past four years, and his righthanded bat fits nicely into an already devastating lineup. Expect those numbers to rise when he plays half his games at Citizens Bank Park.

Feliz doesn’t hit for average (.252 career BA), but he provides a major defensive upgrade on a team that relies heavily on groundball outs. With the exception of Ryan Howard, who has made strides defensively but still moves about as gracefully as a hippo, the Phillies will boast one of the best defensive infields in the majors.

Expect the Phillies to wash their hands of free agent bust Wes Helms any day now, while Greg Dobbs returns to the pinch hitting role where he thrived last season.