The Philadelphia Phillies aren’t blinking.
The Phillies are involved in “staredowns” with four teams regarding pitcher Cole Hamels, according to CSNPhilly.com’s Jim Salisbury. The Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals are the primary suitors for the left-hander, sources told Salisbury.
Hamels has been involved in trade rumors for quite a while. The Phillies have yet to pull the trigger on a deal, though, as Philadelphia’s asking price reportedly remains high. Salisbury suggests the Phillies won’t trade Hamels unless they receive the value they are looking for, which reportedly is two top talents. It’s possible Philadelphia could keep the 31-year-old and look to trade him at the Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline in July.
Salisbury wonders if the Red Sox are “most in the background” among the four primary suitors. They already acquired starters Wade Miley, Rick Porcello and Justin Masterson this offseason, and Boston has been reluctant to trade top prospects such as Mookie Betts and/or Blake Swihart.
Cliff Lee is another name frequently tossed around in Phillies-related trade chatter. Philadelphia could look to trade Lee at some point this season if he remains healthy, and the Red Sox always have had a thing for the 2008 Cy Young, according to Salisbury.
Hamels has four years and $90 million remaining on his contract. He also has a $20 million club option for 2019 — or a $6 million buyout — that he could require an acquiring team to exercise in exchange for waiving his no-trade clause.
The Red Sox reportedly are among 20 teams on Hamels’ no-trade list.
Thumbnail photo via Howard Smith/USA TODAY Sports Images
