I'm not in Indy for the Winter Meetings, but I've tried to follow what I can from back home - via the world wide web, MLB Network, etc. Shortly after the clocks turned to Wednesday here in Philly, I saw various reports that the Phils have signed Ross Gload to a two-year deal to complete their bench.

I believe MLB.com or Comcast was first with the news. The Phillies have not confirmed the signing and, quite honestly, I'm not calling Ruben Amaro Jr. after midnight about Ross Gload.

It's Ross Gload, after all.

I digress. Gload (No.7 in that pic) is actually a pretty good bench player. He hit .261 with six home runs and 30 RBIs in 230 at-bats last season for the Marlins. He's a .283 career hitter in eight major-league seasons with five teams.

Gload is a outfielder/first baseman. He's played the majority of his time at first base in recent years, but for some reason I don't see him manning first too much in Philly (if you forgot, the Phils have a perennial MVP candidate who plays there).

In addition to where he plays with the glove, Gload is left-handed, meaning, as it stands now, he and Greg Dobbs are the left-handed bench guys and Ben Francisco and Juan Castro are the right-handers. Brian Schneider, of course, is the backup catcher.

So here's how the bench has changed since the season ended:

Schneider replaced Paul Bako, Castro replaced Eric Bruntlett and now it appears (once the team confirms it) that Gload will replace Matt Stairs.

What do you think? All upgrades?