Phillies Trade Rumors: Cole Hamels may be on the move
Apr 23, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels (35) looks on as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Drew Butera (31) scores a run in the fifth inning of the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
There are only two Major League Baseball players to be featured on packs of Big League Chew and they might be teammates by the end of the week.
Matt Kemp and Cole Hamels both signed on as the first two players to be featured on a popular gum package and both of their names have been tossed around as the trade deadline approaches on Thursday. It’s possible the two could be involved in a deal for one another or they could be on the same roster shortly.
The Phillies have been saying Hamels was perhaps the only player in the organization to be off the trade blocks for some time, but Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi reported otherwise Monday.
Sources: Phillies have made Cole Hamels available on trade market, although price remains high. Dodgers interested. @FOXSports1
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 28, 2014
Names like Marlon Byrd and Antonio Bastardo continue to fill the air so close to the deadline, but the Phillies who were expected to be big sellers this summer and have not made moves yet. Perhaps it’s due to Cliff Lee struggling and A.J. Burnett‘s 2015 player option that seems to have stalled talks with his supposed suitors. Now Philadelphia is open about having Hamels on the trade market and it’s likely they want position players in return. The return the Phillies want according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports is “the world.” Hamels only has 10 teams in baseball not on his no-trade list. Morosi reports the Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals are among the teams Hamels cannot block a trade to.
Cardinals and Dodgers are teams with best chance to acquire Cole Hamels from Phillies, sources say, but price is very high. @FOXSports1
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 28, 2014
The Cardinals farm system is often praised as the best in baseball and it’s possible the Phillies have scouts looking into them. The Dodgers have the highly touted Joc Pederson and Corey Seager in their minor league system. That has been the reported asking price for the Tampa Bay Rays’ David Price should the Rays and Dodgers agree on a deal.
Hamels is signed through 2018 and stilled owed $105 million. The Dodgers have not been shy about taking on salary, but they have been hesitant to part ways with Pederson and Seager so far.
If the asking price is too high for Hamels, the Phillies may fail to make a deal that will truly retool and rebuild their team. Jon Lester of the Red Sox, along with the Rays’ Price, could draw even more attention among contenders if teams are unwilling to provide the Phillies with enough to in return for their ace.