Back to back walk-off homers for the Phillies!

Brian Schneider! Ryan Howard!! It's amazing what a pair of walk-off home runs can do for team morale. Let's hope the Phillies finally have their "swagger" back!(AP Photos)

Phillies news and notes: Madson is back, Werth to be moved?

Lots of news coming from the Phillies today as they look to finish out the first season on a positive note in a four game series with the Reds:

*Ryan Madson has been activated. Madson, who last pitched in late April, has been on the disabled list for almost two months after he broke his toe when he kicked a chair in frustration. Madson will be a welcome sight to the ragged Phillies bullpen. To make room, the Phillies sent Mike Zagurski back to the minors. Big Mike just doesn't seem ready for the majors right now.

*Carlos Ruiz began his rehab assignment yesterday. Expect Chooch to be back right after the All-Star break.

*Brian Schneider is back in the lineup tonight. Apparently his thumb is feeling a lot better; let's hope that's the last we've seen of Dane Sardinha.

*Finally, the biggest news of the day is something Buster Olney tweeted: the Phillies are talking with teams about the possibility of trading Jayson Werth with the hopes that the team could acquire a starting pitcher in return. This is a move that seems more and more likely to happen every day, what with Werth being a free agent at the end of the season and the Phillies slowly slipping further and further back in the division. While I would hate to see Werth go, if he's going to leave at the end of the season anyway, I would love for the Phillies to be able to turn him into Dan Haren or another starting pitcher of that ilk.

Phillies sign backup catcher Brian Schneider

With all the talk of needing a third baseman and some bullpen help, the Phillies also needed a backup catcher this offseason to help out Carlos Ruiz. Well, that item can be checked off the list as the Phillies have added catcher Brian Schneider. According to the Allentown Morning Call, the Phillies have signed the 10 year MLB vet to a 2 year contract.

Schneider, who has spend his entire career in the NL East with the Expos/Nationals and Mets, is known as a solid defensive catcher. He spent the last two years with the Mets and was injured for most of last year and hit only .218. Schneider is a local guy, having graduated from Northhampton, and his family is filled with Phillies fans, so he will fit right in. More than that, he's a left handed hitter who will be able to spell Ruiz with a competent bat and above average defense.

This is just the kind of solid but not spectacular move the Phillies needed to make. Schneider was a starting catcher for most of his career so he should slide nicely into a backup role on the Phillies.