"Walking by a gaggle of reporters on his way out of the posh Waldorf Astoria here at Disney World, Ruben Amaro Jr. held up his hand and formed a circle with his finger and thumb.

The message? No news to report.

That doesn't exactly come as a surprise. At this time last year, the free-agent signing period had yet to even begin. (Free-agency dates changed earlier this fall as a result of bargaining between the league and the players association prompted by collusion allegations.) The markets for various positions are still in their formative stages, and the Phillies don't figure to contend for any top-dollar players.

"We had some productive discussions with some agents on free agents and with other clubs,'' Amaro said, declining to talk specifics.

The weather was considerably brighter than the outlook for re-signing free agent rightfielder Jayson Werth. Amaro and super-agent Scott Boras chatted on Tuesday, but the situation remains unchanged. The Phillies are still unlikely to meet Werth's expectations as they currently stand.

"I'm not going to discuss Jayson Werth,'' Amaro said.

Amaro was, however, noticeably effusive in his praise of Raul Ibanez, going as far as comparing him to Werth. A reporter asked the GM about his thoughts on the 38-year-old leftfielder, who is entering the final year of a 3-year, $31.5 million contract he signed prior to the start of the 2009 season. Over the last 2 years, Ibanez has hit .273 with an .843 OPS, 50 home runs, 176 RBI and 168 runs. But both seasons have featured lengthy slumps. After starting 2009 with one of the most impressive tears of his career, Ibanez hit just .228 with a .758 OPS in his final 84 games after suffering two abdominal tears that would require offseason surgery. Those struggles carried into 2010, when Ibanez hit just .241 with a .721 OPS and seven home runs through July 8. But he finished strong, hitting .308 with an .867 OPS and nine home runs in his final 73 games.

"I think we can count on the same kind of production he had last year, perhaps a little bit better,'' Amaro said. "He takes care of himself extremely well. He's in great shape. He has the body of a 25-year-old."