With one week remaining before pitchers and catchers have their first workout at Bright House Field in Clearwater, the Phillies are running out of time to make a deal for their ace Cole Hamels. The Phillies do not have to make a deal, but once the season begins, there will be a plethora of rental pitchers available to teams to help their team in 2015. Hamels of course can help a team beyond 2015, but is anyone interested?
Amaro told Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly that the Phillies have had plenty potential suitors:
“Eight teams have kicked the tires,” general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told CSNPhilly.com on Wednesday.
How many teams have made offers?
“Real offers?” Amaro said.
“Four.”
With "real" offers, could a deal get done by next week?
"If there was an offer commensurate to what we believe is [Hamels’] value we would strongly consider it".
So, as of right now Hamels will report to Clearwater. There is no sense in Hamels arriving early, because something here can work out. As long as the Phillies receive offers that are not insulting, such as the Brewers' offer for Jonathan Papelbon, there is a deal to be made.
