As many have already quipped, the Phillies have finally filled the hole Jayson Werth left when he joined the Nationals last year: An outfielder with an awkwardly placed ‘Y’ in their name. The Phillies signed Outfielder Laynce Nix to a 2-year deal on the eve of the 2011-12 Winter Meetings. Nix made $700,000 last year on a one-year deal with the Nationals, so the annual value of this deal shouldn’t be that far off. The move not only ends the Phillies pursuit of former Minnesota Twins Outfielder Michael Cuddyer, but should also end Raul Ibanez’s and Ben Francisco’s tenures with the Phillies. There is simply no more room on the Phillies roster for Francisco, and they aren’t going to waste over $1.5 Million on a player that will stay at AAA.

Nix just turned 31 in October, and played in 124 games for the Nationals in 2011. In 351 PA, Nix posted a .250/.299/.451 line with 16 HR and 44 RBI. The lefty hit .263 off of Right-Handed Pitchers in 2011, but was atrocious against fellow lefties, batting a measly .111.

It’s only December 4th, but the Phillies are just about finished their offseason shopping. Amaro recognized the Phillies biggest weakness in 2011, aside from the tendency for everybody not named Chase or Jimmy to stop hitting in the playoffs. The Phillies bench was lackluster in 2011. Brian Schneider and Michael Martinez was horrible, Ben Francisco failed to meet expectations, Valdez was nothing special, and Gload, while one of the best pinch hitters in the NL leading up to the All-Star break, was horrible afterwards.

Out of the Phillies 2011 Bench, the only players that seem like they could possibly return is Schneider, already signed to a 1-year deal, and Wilson Valdez. Martinez seems to be heading to AAA next year, Gload is leaving via Free Agency and Ben Francisco looks like he will be non-tendered. The new Phillies bench appears to be Nix, Wigginton, Thome, Schneider and Valdez. Not too shabby.

With the Winter Meetings upon us, the Phillies will turn all their attention to locking up Jimmy Rollins, or any shortstop for that manner, to a contract. The only other team that appears to be competing with the Phillies is the Brewers. The Giants appear to have dropped out of the J-Roll sweepstakes and are now pursuing Alex Gonzalez. Jose Reyes, with a 6-Year $111 Million deal on the table from the Marlins, appears destined for South Beach, so the Phillies should lock up J-Roll quickly. If Reyes signs before Rollins, J-Roll could use his position as the best SS on the market to make it a pain for the Phillies.

Aside from that don’t expect much more out of the Phillies offseason. Do not be shocked, however, if the Phillies resign a healthy Brad Lidge to a 1 year deal. He can be a mentor for the young prospects coming up, and was lights out after he returned from injury in 2011. It seems like a perfect low-risk high-reward signing, as Lidge is realistic and doesn’t expect much in the way of offers.