Don’t Expect Cole Hamels To Go Anywhere
As the MLB trade deadline approaches, the buzz about who the Phillies might or might not trade gets louder and louder. And of the many trade pieces that the Phils possess, Cole Hamels might be the most appealing, and may produce the highest potential return. He is an ace, left-handed pitcher in his prime, and has plenty of playoff and World Series experience.
Jon Morosi reported that Hamels was officially on the trading block. However, Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. reportedly set the price tag very high for Hamels.
Because of that, it is looking more and more likely that Hamels, at least for now, will stay put in Philadelphia. Ken Rosenthal reports that the Phillies have received no real offers for the lefty and cites a source claiming that Hamels is the least likely candidate to be traded.
The market for Hamels right now might not be strong with other top lefties David Price and Jon Lester on the trade market. And Hamels, more so than any other player on the Phillies, is a guy you absolutely need to sell high with, unlike some other players like Marlon Byrd, Jonathan Papelbon, and A.J. Burnett, to name a few. The return for him needs to be outstanding. There will be more–and potentially better–opportunities to trade him in the future.
