Everyone is for sale. From Jonathan Papelbon to David Buchanan to Cole Hamels to Ryan Howard. Everyone. There's no doubting Ruben Amaro is bound to get some bites on a number of available players and according to Bob Elliot of the Toronto Sun, the Blue Jays have reached out to the Phillies regarding three players specifically.
The Jays called the Philadelphia Phillies inquiring about lefty Cole Hamels, second baseman Chase Utley and lefty reliever Antonio Bastardo.
Utley had 36 doubles six triples 11 homers and 78 RBIs in 155 games with a .746 OPS. He earns $10 millions this year, has a full no-trade and refused to waive it earlier this season. Of course, the Jays have a need at second base after taking the job away from Ryan Goins last year.
Hamels was 9-9 with a 2.46 ERA in 30 starts walking 59 and striking out 198 in 204 2/3 innings. The lefty who earns $22.5 million has a limited no trade and may block trades to 20 clubs. This year he was able to block deals to all clubs except the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals.
Bastardo, 5-7 with a 3.94 ERA walking 34 and striking out 81 in 64 innings, might be the only one that the Jays could afford to obtain is eligible for salary arbitration. The Jays need to rebuild their bullpen.
The Blue Jays are also interested in Russell Marting and Victor Martinez. You can find the full report here.
Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor for Philliedelphia.com
