Source: Phils favorite for DeRosa — 5:38 a.m.

Of the dozen or so teams that have expressed interest in free-agent infielder Mark DeRosa, the Phillies loom as the favorite, according to a major-league source.

DeRosa attended the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. His hard-nosed style would fit that of the two-time defending National League champions. And his price range might be realistic for the Phillies, too.

The Phillies, who declined their $5 million club option on Pedro Feliz, want to spend between $4 million and $6 million on a third baseman, a second source said.

DeRosa, 34, is coming off a much lower salary ($5.5 million) than two other prominent free-agent candidates at third, Miguel Tejada ($13 million) and Adrian Beltre ($12 million).

The Phillies considered DeRosa before the 2007 season, but opted for Wes Helms in free agency instead.

The Mariners could be another possibility for DeRosa, who played for the M’s manager, Don Wakamatsu, when Wakamatsu was the bench coach for the Rangers.

The concern with DeRosa is that he underwent surgery in late October to repair a torn tendon sheath on his left wrist. However, he is expected to be ready for baseball activities by spring training.

Season in seven words: “Did you hear? They won in ‘08!” …

Hero: Chase Utley faded hard in the season’s last month, but he remains criminally underrated. How has this guy not popped up in an unfunny Subway commercial by now? …

Loserhead: Brad Lidge narrowly edges out Charlie Manuel, the manager who continues to enable him. At some point, it’s going to dawn on Cholly that what happened in 2008 is not relevant to 2009 …

Key need: To reverse the aging process so that they can wring another title run out of the Howard/Utley/Rollins/Werth/Victorino core …

Prognosis: Players age fast now that the game has outlawed supervitamins and wonderpills. Be wary.

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