Phillies pick up option to keep Lee

Amaro discusses myriad decisions that lie ahead for club

Todd Zolecki / MLB.com

PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has been moving from one meeting to the next since the Phillies lost to the New York Yankees in the World Series.

He already has 2010 on his mind.

"We're disappointed we didn't reach our ultimate goal of being a world champion," Amaro said during a news conference Friday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. "I'll be frank with you, we're already pretty focused on what we're going to do in 2010 and beyond."

The Phillies took their first step when they picked up the $9 million club option on left-hander Cliff Lee, who went 7-4 with a 3.39 ERA in 12 regular-season starts and 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five postseason starts.

Brett Myers, Pedro Martinez and Miguel Cairo also filed for free agency on Friday.

Lee said immediately following the World Series that he would be interested in discussing a contract extension with the Phillies, but Lee probably is also interested in what the market holds when he becomes a free agent for the first time after next season.

Amaro said he spoke with Lee's agent a couple times during the postseason, and said they would consider a contract extension.

"That said, we have some time on that," Amaro said.

Amaro said they have not decided on third baseman Pedro Feliz's $5.5 million club option. That decision must be made by Monday.

Why is the decision on Feliz more difficult than the decision on Lee?

"More than anything else, what options might be out there for us," Amaro said. "And deciding whether picking up his option is best suited to try to move forward. He had a solid year for us. I like the man personally. He's a great person. He's a great teammate. But I also believe in trying to improve, and sometimes a change can be for the better.