Phillies rumors: Creative solutions for centerfield search?

After the Atlanta Braves signed B.J. Upton and the Washington Nationals traded for Denard Span, the Philadelphia Phillies are now looking for other solutions in their search for a centerfielder. While manager Charlie Manuel would like to go after Michael Bourn, sources say that the Phillies are a 'long shot' to land the player, according to CSNPhilly.com Phillies Insider Jim Salisbury:

"Not only does Bourn project to be very expensive - he figures to want more than the five years and $75 million that Upton got - but he doesn't fit the Phillies' need to add right-handed pop."

So what are some options if the Phillies can't land Bourn? Some names that have been floated as possible players the Phillies could trade for include the Los Angeles Angels' Peter Bourjos or Colorado Rockies' Dexter Fowler. There is also an interesting idea where the Phillies could sign Ichiro Suzuki to play center and then trade for Josh Willingham to play one of the corners.

General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. knows that there are several directions the Phillies could go this offseason:

"We have to be creative. None of these players are without warts. No player is going to give us all the combinations that we want. We're going to have to be creative to get those combinations."

The Winter Meetings are scheduled to end around noon on Thursday with the Rule 5 draft. The team hopes to be involved in the draft, but they could wind up losing minor league pitcher Juan Sosa in the draft.