Via Scott Lauber of the Wilmington News Journal:

At last, in the winter meetings’ final hours, the Phillies found pitching help. Maybe.

After three days of balking at the prohibitive cost for pitching, the Phillies picked two pitchers in the Rule 5 draft, baseball’s annual scavenger hunt for hidden talent. And they believe their first pick, left-hander Travis Blackley from the San Francisco Giants, can aid their rotation in 2008.

Blackley, a 25-year-old Australian, once was a touted Seattle Mariners prospect, but shoulder surgery caused him to miss the 2005 season and slowed his progress. He went 10-8 with a 4.66 ERA last season for Class AAA Fresno and is 1-3 with a 9.35 ERA in eight career games with Seattle and San Francisco.

“We think he’s still on the upswing,” assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said after the Phillies plucked Blackley with the 15th pick. “He’s definitely a guy that has a chance to compete for a job on the club. If he doesn’t end up as the fifth starter, his stuff would allow him to pitch in the middle [relief].”

With the 18th pick, the Phils took right-handed reliever Lincoln Holdzkom from the Boston Red Sox. Holdzkom, 25, went 5-1 with a 2.97 ERA in 42 games last season between Class AA Portland and Class AAA Pawtucket but exhibited control problems (44 walks in 632¼3 innings).

The Phillies paid $50,000 per player to pick Blackley and Holdzkom. They must stay on the active major league roster for the entire season or be offered back to their original teams for $25,000 apiece.