Earlier today, Mike Sherman of the NY Post reported unnamed executives believe Cole Hamels will have a hard time declining a contract extension offer of 6 years, $130 million, citing the only roadblocks as MLBPA union pressure to test the open market and any currently-not-visible desire of Hamels’ to play for the Dodgers. Meanwhile, Jayson Stark is reporting the chances of the Phils trading Hamels are diminishing but still exist. Stark estimates there is a 90% chance Hamels is traded before the deadline should an extension not be hammered out in a timely manner, but also cites an unnamed executive who says the chances of a trade “are dropping, but are not zero”.
Stark noted in his piece that the Phillies are downplaying any interest in trading their most asked about trade chip, Hunter Pence, and instead reportedly have Shane Victorino, Jimmy Rollins, Joe Blanton, Placido Polanco, and Kyle Kendrick available for the highest bidder.
On a side note, a few former Phillies were traded for each other today: former Phil J.A. Happ was dealt with Brandon Lyon and Brandon Carpenter to the Blue Jays in a 10-player deal with the Astros for a package that included former Phil Ben Francisco, Francisco Cordero, and minor leaguers Joe Musgrove, Asher Wojciechowski, David Rollins, Carlos Perez, and a player to be named later. Best of luck to the former Phils in their new spots.
