When the Phillies checked into spring training a year ago, a veteran team with most of its roster in place had a legitimate, healthy competition for jobs.
With several young arms pushing their way onto the roster, a transition was underway in the bullpen, from older, experienced players to younger, promising rookies.
The transformation continued throughout the season, too, as the likes of Antonio Bastardo, Michael Stutes and David Herndon became fixtures, while veterans J.C. Romero and Danys Baez were released.
The trend will undoubtedly continue this season. After a winter that saw only remaining two members of the 2008 World Championship bullpen depart, Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson, the relief corps overhaul is near-complete.
Knowing a healthy presence of veterans is still vital to a bullpen's overall success, however, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. wisely scooped up a veteran arm off the free agent market before the calendar flipped to February.
Not two weeks before pitchers and catchers hold their first workout in Clearwater, Fla., Amaro signed veteran right-handed reliever Chad Qualls to a one-year, $1.15 million contract.
Qualls, 33, had a 3.51 ERA in a team-high 77 games with the San Diego Padres in 2011. He has appeared in at least 70 games in six of the last seven seasons.
"He brings experience and durability," Amaro said "He can be kind of a stabilizer for us. When he's on one of his hot streaks, he can pitch in the seventh or eighth inning. It gives us more depth, more choices."
While Stutes, Bastardo, Herndon and fellow youngsters Justin De Fratus, Michael Schwimer, Phillippe Aumont and left-hander Joe Savery are knocking on the major league door, the Phillies will still have a healthy crop of veterans in line to secure jobs in the bullpen.
New closer Jonathan Papelbon is a lock, while Qualls and fellow vets Kyle Kendrick and Dontrelle Willis aren't far behind. Jose Contreras, recovering from offseason elbow injury, should also be ready at some point in April.
But coming off a year when three closers appeared on the disabled list in the first three months, Amaro knows depth is especially important to a pitching staff.
On that note, Qualls, who has managed to stay relatively injury-free in his eight-year career, would appear to be a wise addition.
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