The Phillies are a .500 team, in the middle of a division, not bad, not good, just there.

But that gives them enough a foundation to build upon, not destroy. And that's why general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. all but ended the mystery Sunday, before the Phils' 4-3, 10-inning victory over the Chicago White Sox.

He's buying.

Let somebody else sell.

“We're probably in the 'add' mode,” Amaro said, “more than anything else.”

Amaro will look for a pitcher and a center fielder, some bench help and any clear path to the top of an N.L. East that continues to look wide open.

“It's pretty exciting, actually,” he. said, “for us to have gotten ourselves back into the race and to play a little bit better baseball.”

There have been more exciting seasons, just put it that way. Amaro, though, insists he will try to make it more exciting. The Phillies, who have won their last four series and just had a .700 homestand, deserve the boost.

Check out my column in the Daily Times Monday and, as always, on delcotimes.com