When Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was asked what he wants to improve his club, this is what he said:

“I think we need pitching,” he said. “The game is about pitching.”

“At the same time, if we get these guys (here) to step up, that’s good,” Manuel said.

The Phillies are ranked eighth in the National League in starting pitchers’ ERA (3.98) and ninth in the bullpen ERA (4.03), and would like to improve on those numbers for a playoff run.

Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com says the Phils have been scouting all available starting pitchers for weeks. They’ve looked at Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, Ben Sheets, Jeremy Guthrie, Dan Haren, Edwin Jackson, Fausto Carmona, Jake Westbrook and others.

The team also has been looking for infield help. The Phils are open to acquiring a second or third baseman and have investigated Miguel Tejada (Baltimore), Ty Wigginton (Baltimore), Kelly Johnson (Arizona), Jeff Keppinger (Houston) and others.

So should we expect something to be done soon?

“Trades are hard,” Manuel said. “It’s difficult to get your needs and wants. Can we make one? Yes. But we want the trade to be beneficial and be good – something that will help us and set us up for a good run.”