Phillies Trade Rumors: Expect Philly to Hold onto Cole Hamels Up Until Deadline

Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels may be a top trade target right now, but don’t expect him to be dealt until the deadline is imminent.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported on Sunday that the Phillies recently began working the phones after contract negotiations broke down with Hamels. And, as with any top names on the trade market, expect the Phillies to dangle Hamels right up until the deadline, seeking the best available offer.

Hamels owns a 10-4 record with a 3.08 ERA and 1.10 WHIP this season for Philadelphia. He’s recorded 111 strikeouts in 111 innings. On the other hand, he’s also a free agent after the season, and with no guarantee that he’ll return to Philadelphia, the Phillies must begin thinking about trading the 28-year-old.

Buster Olney of ESPN noted on Tuesday that it was only natural for the Phillies to look into offers for the star left-hander, but “unless somebody calls up with a monster offer for Hamels — which rival evaluators do not believe will happen until some day closer to the July 31 deadline — the Phillies will continue to play out their season and hope that they slowly climb back into the race, with Chase Utley back in the lineup and Ryan Howard on the way.”

So, at the moment, Philadelphia will see what happens before July 31 and – if they are still out of contention by then – will wait until an overwhelming offer falls in their lap.

Headed into Tuesday’s game, the Phillies were 36-45, good for last place in the NL East. They were eight games back for a Wild-Card spot in the National League. In that sense, it’s unlikely that they’ll rise enough, even with Utley and Howard, to be back in the picture by the time the trade deadline rolls around. That points to Hamels eventually being dealt.

The rest of the league will have to be patient until then.

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