The Phillies are responsible for at least $6.35 million of Jenkins' $6.75 million salary, plus the $1.25 million buyout of his option for 2010. Last month, they released RHP Adam Eaton and ate his $9.15 million salary. Including the $3 million they're still paying 1B Jim Thome, they are paying $20.15 million to former players. "The best-laid plans don't work out sometimes," Amaro said. "That's obviously the case with Eaton and Geoff. But we felt like we were a better club by doing the things we did."

--RHP Chan Ho Park came to spring training with a goal of becoming the Phillies' No. 5 starter. He accomplished his goal. On Tuesday, the Phillies had informed Park that he'd edged LHP J.A. Happ for the final spot in the rotation. It was the fulfillment of a burning desire to be a starter again, a yearning so strong that he declined to pitch for Korea in the World Baseball Classic to remain in camp with the Phillies. "I know it's not going to be easy," said Park, who hasn't been a starter since 2006. "But it's good because I earned it. I made the rotation. I'm happy I have an opportunity to be challenged."

Park, 35, also hasn't exceeded 160 innings in a season since 2001 with the Dodgers. His career sputtered after he signed a five-year, $65 million deal with the Rangers, and he spent most of 2007 in the minors before reviving himself last season in the Dodgers' bullpen.

Park said he prefers to start because it is easier for fans in Korea to follow him when he pitches every five days. "Every game I start is going to be like my last game," he said. "That's how I focus."

Pitching coach Rich Dubee said Park's spring performance helped ease the Phils' concerns that he could hold up as a starter. But he also noted spring training is different from the intensity of the regular season. "We think he can do it on the way he has pitched," Amaro said. "He's come in prepared to take this job. J.A. Happ did not lose the job. It's more that Chan Ho Park won it." Happ and LHP Jack Taschner earned the final two spots in the Phillies' bullpen.

--RHP Brett Myers allowed one run in four innings of his last spring-training tune-up, then flashed his poker face when asked if he would be the Phillies' opening-night starter. "He didn't tell you?" manager Charlie Manuel said. "I didn't think he could keep a secret." It's a secret no longer. Myers, the Phillies' opening-day starter for the past two seasons, will start the nationally televised opener Sunday night in Citizens Bank Park. He'll be followed in the rotation by LHP Jamie Moyer (April 7), RHP Joe Blanton (April 8) and LHP Cole Hamels (April 10).

Myers will start April 11 before RHP Chan Ho Park starts April 12. Last season, Myers went 10-13 with a 4.55 ERA. But he was 3-9 with a 5.84 ERA before the All-Star break and spent three weeks in the minors, then went 7-4 with a 3.06 ERA in his final 13 starts. He will be a free agent after this season. "Brett can have any type of year that Brett wants to have," pitching coach Rich Dubee said. "He's that talented. If he takes the same mindset out there every five days, there's no reason Brett can't have a big season." Hamels initially was scheduled to make the opening-night start but was slowed two weeks ago by elbow tightness.

--1B Ryan Howard hit his 10th homer of the spring on April 2, taking Nationals LHP Scott Olsen deep. "He's had a lot of at-bats down here and he's in better shape -- he's ready to go," manager Charlie Manuel said.

--2B Chase Utley's health was a major issue for the Phillies when spring training began. Not anymore. Utley, who underwent right hip surgery Nov. 24, has proved he's ready to start the season. Through March 27, he was batting .320 (8-for-25) in Grapefruit League games, and he recently homered in back-to-back games.

"The last three or four games, I haven't even thought about (the hip), to be honest with you," Utley said. "At first, I thought about it a little bit. But now, it's out of my mind completely. We're moving in the right direction. It's a positive that everything feels good to this point."

GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said he expects both Utley and 3B Pedro Feliz (Nov. 20 back surgery) to be ready for the season opener April 5 at Citizens Bank Park.

--RHP Kyle Kendrick had a fairy-tale start to his major league career, unexpectedly arriving from Class AA in 2007 and winning 21 games over the past two seasons. But after falling behind in the competition for the Phillies' No. 5 starter job, he was optioned to minor league camp. Kendrick, who started Game 2 of the 2007 NL Division Series, will open 2009 at Class AAA Lehigh Valley.

"At first, I was upset," he said. "But I know what I need to do. I'll be back."

Mostly, he needs to develop secondary pitches to offset his signature sinker. Using almost entirely one pitch, Kendrick, 24, is 21-13 with a 4.78 ERA in 51 career appearances (50 starts). But last season, he lost his spot in the rotation by going 3-6 with a 7.39 ERA from July 11 through Sept. 9. Then, after being labeled last month by pitching coach Rich Dubee as the slight favorite to claim the No. 5 job, he went 1-3 with a 9.20 ERA in four Grapefruit League starts and was outpitched by RHP Chan Ho Park and LHP J.A. Happ.

"If he pitches to a 2.00 ERA in Triple-A and it's all predominantly sinkers, we still have the same Kyle Kendrick we have right now," Dubee said. "And that isn't good enough. We're looking for growth. When he gets back up here, we want to see a little different Kyle Kendrick. We want to see a three-pitch guy."

--C Ronny Paulino, acquired in a Dec. 10 trade with Pittsburgh, did little this spring to impress manager Charlie Manuel or wrestle the backup job from Chris Coste. Consequently, the Phillies dealt him to San Francisco for LHP Jack Taschner. Paulino, 27, was batting .194 (6-for-31) this spring.

"I see a guy that's real stiff," Manuel said. "In a game, he hits mostly everything to right field. He muscles the ball instead of freely hitting through the ball. He doesn't use his legs. The big boy has a lot of power, but at times, he's all a right field hitter, and that's because of his approach."

Hours after acquiring Paulino, the Giants dealt him to Florida for minor league RHP Hector Correa.

Taschner, 30, has spent the last four seasons in the Giants bullpen. He struggled this spring, allowing 12 walks and nine runs (six earned) in 8 2/3 innings. He joins Scott Eyre in giving the Phillies two left-handed relievers.

--LHP J.C. Romero, suspended for the first 50 games after testing positive for a banned substance, is awaiting word from Major League Baseball on whether he'll be allowed to attend the Phillies' season opener April 5 and the World Series ring ceremony three days later. "I'm hoping at least they give me that much and let me be there for the ceremony and to receive my ring," said Romero, who continues to contend that he unknowingly took an over-the-counter supplement that he was told wouldn't trigger a positive drug test. "I hope they realize this is a thing that might only come once in a lifetime."

--RHP Chad Durbin has been trying out a new pitch. Usually, Durbin throws a cutter on the inside corner to left-handed hitters. But after talking to closer Brad Lidge in the bullpen throughout last season, he's working on a slider designed to supplement the cutter and give hitters a different look. Durbin has been throwing the pitch in the bullpen but has used it sparingly in Grapefruit League games.

"(Lidge) grips it similar to the way I grip my cutter," Durbin said. "And his arm action is pretty similar to my arm action. I've thrown it in the bullpen and two in a game and buried both of them (for strikes). Obviously, I'll make a decision (about using it) before the games count."

BY THE NUMBERS: 23 -- Players on the Phillies' 25-man World Series roster who are returning to the team this season. LF Pat Burrell (Rays) and OF So Taguchi (minor league deal with the Cubs) are the only players who aren't back.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "When you're a bench player, you goddamn better think you're competing. Just as soon as you think you've got it made, somebody will come along and sniff you right off the bench. That happens all the time. Don't ever assume anything. We want hard-nosed, winning players. If you think you're going to short-cut us, some dumb guy like me will trip you up." -- Manager Charlie Manuel, on the competition for the final spots on the roster.