The Phillies have announced their Opening Day roster, and right handed utility man Miguel Cairo is on the list. Cairo has been battling all spring to be the final right handed bat off the bench.

Cairo beat out Marcus Giles, Pablo Ozuna, and Jason Donald for the spot. Cairo even survived the attempted signing of free agent slugger Gary Sheffield, who was released by the Detroit Tigers earlier this week. However, Sheffield agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Mets on Friday after they guaranteed him considerable playing time off the bench.

The Phillies released outfielder Geoff Jenkins, a lefthander, the same day the Tigers released Sheffield. Jenkins’ release was seen as a move to pave the way for Sheffield, but that ultimately did not work out. In the end, chances were that either Jenkins or fellow lefthanded outfielder Matt Stairs would be released.

So it is Cairo’s job, for now. The Phillies will still likely pursue another right handed slugger, but Cairo will fit in fine for now. He played every position in 2008 with the exception of catcher and pitcher.

The rest of the roster fills out like this:

Pitchers: Right-handers Joe Blanton, Clay Condrey, Chad Durbin, Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, Brett Myers and Chan Ho Park. Left-handers Scott Eyre, Cole Hamels, J.A. Happ, Jamie Moyer and Jack Taschner.

Catchers: Chris Coste and Carlos Ruiz.

Infielders: Eric Bruntlett, Cairo, Greg Dobbs, Pedro Feliz, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley.

Outfielders: Raul Ibanez, Stairs, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth.