The Phillies are reportedly closing in on a one-year contract with utility infielder Juan Castro.

Castro, 37, batted .277 with one home run and nine RBIs in limited action with the Dodgers last season.

“Who doesn’t like the Phillies as an organization?” Castro’s agent, Oscar Suarez, told Phillies.com’s Todd Zolecki. “You want to win. And who doesn’t like Juan Castro? You want to have a superb utility man to back up the guys you have up the middle. We’re trying to put this thing together. I think we’re going to get it done.”

Castro would take the place of Eric Bruntlett, who declined a minor league contract earlier this month.

IN: INF Eric Bruntlett, RHP Chan Ho Park
OUT: RHP Brett Myers, RHP Kyle Kendrick

Those are the only changes from the divisional series. Excluding Myers is somewhat of a surprise probably because he’s been a mainstay since 2002.

Myers was reportedly “ticked” to hear the news.

But can you blame Charlie Manuel? Uh, no.

Hey Brett, newsflash for you: You haven’t been healthy since May. When you came back, you looked OK… then you kind of sucked.

Don’t take it personally, dude. Park has been a bigger asset in the bullpen this year.

Kendrick wasn’t needed because you’d figure that either J.A. Happ or Joe Blanton will be the long man if a starter gets in trouble.

Bruntlett is essentially an extra runner and nothing more. I agree with this move, as well, because I don’t want to ever again see Cliff Lee pinch running during the playoffs.

So much has been made out of the Phillies’ pitching situation heading into the playoffs, it’s easy to forget that this team has one major flaw outside of a guy whose name rhymes with “Lad” and “Bridge”…

The bench is weak.

But it’s not a lost cause, either.

There are two semi-not-really-controversial moves/switch-a-roos that should be made for the NLDS.

John Mayberry Jr. over Matt Stairs

So what if Mayberry failed to live up to the spring-training hype. And who cares if he has career minor leaguer written all over him.

Matt Stairs doesn’t deserve a spot on the roster.

I know, I know … he’s a power lefty and a folk hero. He can suck 90 percent of the time and make up for lost time with one swing of a bat.  Heck, I’ll be the first to admit that the Phillies MIGHT NOT have won the World Series without Stairs’ moonshot in Game 4 against the Dodgers.

But… c’mon, this guy flat-out cannot hit any longer. He’s old, beer-belly fat and Canadian. What more prove is there that this guy just doesn’t have it anymore?

Stairs can’t even catch up with a juicy fastball — his pride and joy. What does he have, one hit since July?

I understand that you’re losing the THREAT of a pinch-hit homer in late innings… but I’d gladly take my chance with Mayberry, who has shown flashes of power, if not an inability to hit any pitch that doesn’t stay straight in the zone.

Not to mention, Mayberry can run a little bit, so he can be used in pinch-run situations if need be.

Miguel Cairo over Eric Bruntlett

Ugh. Well, this isn’t exactly a huge, earth-shattering decision. Both guys a borderline terrible, but I’d give Cairo the nod because he has shown to be a better hitter in limited action this year.

Matt Stairs' career-defining moment. Savior it forever, Phillies fans. It won't happen again (or, at least it shouldn't have the chance to happen again... not this year).

Like Stairs, Bruntlett can’t hit a lick.

Maybe Bruntlett is a better fielder… who the hell knows?

Here’s how the bench should look on Wednesday:

Outfielders – Ben Francisco and Mayberry

Infielders: Cairo and Dobbs

Catcher: Paul Bako

The Phillies lost to the Marlins, 4-3, Saturday afternoon. They cannot clinch home field advantage throughout the National League playoffs.

Good news, though, is that the Cardinals lost to the Brewers. Thus, the Phils have home field advantage in the first round ONLY.

Todd Zolecki of Phillies.com blogged Saturday that Charlie Manuel is leaning toward carrying 13 pitchers and 10 position player on the first-round playoff roster. Here’s the breakdown as far as position players are concerned:

C: Carlos Ruiz and Paul Bako

INF: Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Pedro Feliz, Jimmy Rollins, Greg Dobbs and Eric Bruntlett.

OF: Raul Ibanez, Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth, Matt Stairs and Ben Francisco.

The pitching is a whole lot blurrier. With season-ending injuries to J.C. Romero, Jamie Moyer and possibly Chan Ho Park… there are questions here. Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels will start Games 1 and 2 of the NLDS, respectively. Joe Blanton should pitch the third game. The No. 4 spot has not yet been determined.

J.A Happ and Pedro Martinez are the candidates. Happ could be moved to the bullpen because of the team’s shortage of left-handed relievers. As of now, Scott Eyre

Don't lie to us, Charlie. If Brad Lidge has another 1-2-3 outing in a meaningless game Sunday (like he did Saturday), you're gonna put him in a save situation the first chance you get, right?

is probably the Phillies’ only lefty specialist.

However, if Sergio Escalona and Antonio Bastardo pitch well over the weekend, either one could be included on the postseason roster. At this point, you’d have to think that both are long shots…

Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, Tyler Walker, Brett Myers and Eyre are “locks”. I’m pretty sure Kyle Kendrick has earned the role of long reliever.

Either Happ or Martinez is guaranteed a spot in the pen. Clay Condrey is iffy because he hasn’t pitched a whole lot this season because of injuries…

The pitching roles are pretty much undefined at this point. With one day left to go in the regular season, Manuel has some crucial decisions to make.