While the Philadelphia area waits on the official word of Roy Halladay signing an extension (sources have said it’s done) and a three-team trade being completed the Phillies rounded out their bench today by signing utilityman Ross Gould.

Gould hit .261 with six homers and 30 RBIs for the Marlins last year and is a career .283 hitter spending time with the Cubs, Rockies, White Sox and Royals, before heading to Florida.

Gould will take over the role previously filled by Matt Stairs, as a backup first baseman and reserve outfielder.

Everyone knew the Phillies needed to overhaul their bench this offseason and they have done that. The question is: Have they actually made improvements? Gone are Stairs, Eric Bruntlett, Paul Bako and in are Juan Castro Brian Schneider and now Gould, to complement Greg Dobbs and Ben Francisco.

On paper, the bench should be better, though only marginally. Outside of Francisco there is no one with pop that you could send to the plate in late innings and ask for a long ball, but the Phillies certainly have plenty of that with their starters. It would have been nice to see Ruben Amaro bring in a better bat for the bench, but it is hard to criticize a guy who is about to bring the best pitcher in baseball to town.

Besides, with Halladay coming to Philly, you won’t be hearing too much about the bench for quite some time.