@Philabaseball | December 10, 2013, 4:15 p.m.
Ryne Sandberg heard the rumors swirling Tuesday morning about the Phillies possibly trading Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels and said he just shook his head.
"Silly," Sandberg said. "That's really the best way to explain it."
The Phillies manager spoke with reporters Tuesday afternoon during the Winter Meetings in Orlando.
"We want to win now and I think the signing of Marlon Byrd and Carlos Ruiz should demonstrate that," Sandberg said. "We are going for it right now."
Sandberg spoke highly of the young arms in the Phillies bullpen, but admitted the club is still a few pieces short from where they want to be.
"Depth and starting pitching are a priority for us right now," Sandberg said. "One or two starting pitchers, that's the key right now for us."
The Phillies have some questions in the starting rotation beyond Lee and Hamels. Miguel Gonzalez has never thrown an inning in the majors and began a conditioning program in Florida yesterday, while Kyle Kendrick and Jonathan Pettibone round out the final two spots.
"We are exploring the different options out there, but obviously we need to do what we believe to be a good move for our club," said general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. "This can be a funny game sometimes."
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Phillies have TWO starters.
And a lineup that can't hit with a gaping hole in CF.
58 win roster as of today.