There has been plenty of discussion and debate surrounding whether the Philadelphia Phillies should trade Cole Hamels – who is arguably their most valuable trade asset – but it appears increasingly unlikely that a deal will be made. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has made it known to opposing clubs that the left-hander is available, but his asking price is reportedly so high that other teams are convinced that the club is not serious about moving him.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports spoke with a rival executive about those talks who simply said, “Hamels is staying put.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and others have reportedly expressed varying levels of interest in Hamels since he became available. The Phillies have apparently asked each team for a package built around 3 or 4 of the team’s best prospects. There have also been reports that the team is only willing to pay roughly $10 Million of the more than $90 Million remaining on his contract. It’s a package that just simply will prove too high for any opposing organization.
The Phillies are loaded with players they’d like to move, but either due to poor performance or costly contracts few of them seem likely to change uniforms before the trading deadline. The team has yet to make a single trade this month. A rebuilding period appears inevitable – and dealing Hamels would be the most effective way to start reloading on talent – but nobody expects this team to simply give away their players.
Based on these reports Hamels doesn’t appear likely to be moved, to the pleasure of many Phillies fans, but there doesn’t appear to be much hope on the team’s immediate horizon either.