After a trade deadline and an offseason of inactivity, the Phillies might finally be stepping up their efforts to trade ace Cole Hamels. For a Phillies team that is desperate for an infusion of young talent, trading Hamels is their best opportunity to get some. Plus, as we saw with Jonathan Papelbon's comments earlier in the week, players are getting restless waiting for something to happen.
First, Jon Heyman of CBS wrote yesterday that the Phillies are becoming "more reasonable" in their efforts to trade Hamels:
While one AL executive suggested a week ago that the Phillies haven't yet "bent" on their Hamels demands since Andy MacPhail joined their front office to lead them, two other executives, using similar terminology, now say the Phillies have seemed somewhat more "reasonable" in their recent trade talks, and sources suggest there's word of some potential progress with at least the Dodgers and Rangers. Phillies scouts have been dispatched to check out multiple systems, including those of LA and Texas.
In the Dodgers' case, Philly was said to have previously insisted on at least one of the Dodgers' top-two prospects, who happened to be two of the very best in baseball — shortstop Corey Seager or young lefty Julio Urias — but at least now appears to be considering other possible Dodger scenarios.
If fans can get past not getting back Julio Urias or Corey Seager, then the Phillies and the Dodgers very well could match up on a deal with the Dodgers' remaining prospects.
This morning, Bleacher Report's Will Carroll reported that the Phillies are "collecting offers" to present to Hamels:
Phillies collecting offers to take to Hamels. Includes some teams on his no trade list. Amaro working phones hard.
— Will Carroll (@injuryexpert) July 18, 2015
That could be why Hamels, who last started Friday, July 10 and easily could have opened the Marlins series when teams resumed play, is scheduled to start Sunday.
Would the Phillies trade Hamels before his start on Sunday? Maybe, but by not starting Hamels Friday, they guaranteed Hamels one fewer start between the All-Star break and the trade deadline. Hamels could have pitched July 17, 22, and 27 if the Phillies saw fit. Instead, Hamels is set to pitch July 19, 25, and July 31 at 7:05 p.m. – three hours after the trade deadline.
In other words, Hamels' starts are limited to two between now and the deadline. Maybe Hamels will not even get that far.
