The Major League Baseball trade deadline is just over a week away and the two big names surrounding the Phillies are Cole Hamels and Jonathan Papelbon. A variety of suitors have shown interest in both Phils pitchers, but it seems as if the Cubs are stepping up their game in hopes of acquiring Hamels.
According to David Kaplan of CSN Chicago, the Cubs, who sit 1/2 game outside the second Wild Card spot, are currently in talks with the Phillies for Hamels.
MLB sources confirmed to me this afternoon that the Cubs have been in discussions with the Philadelphia Phillies on a deal for Cole Hamels who has three years left on his current contract plus an option year. While he is an expensive piece he fits the needs of the team to upgrade their rotation while adding a player who would be a part of the team beyond the rest of this season. The Cubs will probably add an additional starter for depth perhaps as a rental type but that is not expected to be a significant acquisition.
The Cubs are thought to be offering a package centered around top prospect Javier Baez and shortstop Starlin Castro. In five minor league seasons, Baez is a career .282 hitter. This season in Triple-A, the 2011 first round pick is hitting .314 with seven doubles, eight home runs and 29 RBI's.
Meanwhile, it isn't quite clear why Castro would be an appealing option for the Phillies with Freddy Galvis providing strong defense at short and J.P. Crawford in the wings. Castro, 25, is hitting just .239 this season for the Cubs with 67 strikeouts and 15 walks. ESPN's Jayson Stark reports that the Phils aren't really too excited about either of the two trade pieces.
"I don't think they'll be in the rental market," the executive who has spoken to the Cubs told Stark. "So the value to them, with Hamels, is the three years [left on his contract]. This isn't just about selling out to go for the wild card. It's about getting ahead of [the free-agent ace market] this winter." [CBSSports.com]
Unless the Cubs plan to sweeten that deal, it is highly unlikely Ruben Amaro Jr. will pull the trigger.
