The Philadelphia Phillies called up top hitting prospect Maikel Franco earlier today, further indicating the team is committed to rebuilding - an already widely known fact. To expedite that process the team needs to trade Cole Hamels.
However, it's unknown when such a move will come. Hamels has been the subject of trade rumors since last July, but general manager Ruben Amaro has been said to want an "excessive" return for the left-hander. The team has a number of rising pitching prospects, but Amaro said he doesn't plan on rushing them to the MLB.
They acquired Zach Eflin and Ben Lively in offseason trades and both are excelling thus far in 2015. Eflin is 2-3 with a 3.12 ERA and 1.125 WHIP in six starts with Double-A Reading and Lively is 3-0 with a 3.06 ERA and 1.189 WHIP in six starts at Double-A as well. And let's not forget about Aaron Nola, who is 4-2 with a 2.04 ERA and 0.832 in six starts too.
So when is the time to promote these pitchers and trade Hamels?
"I'm not going there," team president David Montgomery told Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News. "After all that [Cole's] done for us, my hope is he's still here to provide that leadership."
But that leadership will come at a high price.
"The Phillies still owe Hamels upward of $80 million from the record, six-year, $144 million contract extension signed three summers ago," adds Lawrence. "But while the pitcher remains in his prime, the organization is on a collision course with a fourth straight season without a winning record. The Phillies are rebuilding; trading away the team's top asset is widely viewed as the most prudent way to restock the club with young talent."
Hamels improved to 3-3 this season on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He looked like the old Hamels, tossing seven innings and striking out nine while surrendering two earned runs on five hits and a walk. In eight starts the left-hander has a 3.53 ERA, 1.216 WHIP and 55 strikeouts.
Amaro is seemingly waiting until the last possible moment to deal Hamels because he's expecting another contending club will be desperate for a starter once the deadline approaches. A number of starting rotations are having issues right now, such as the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and others, but those big market teams will likely be the ones in play for Hamels.
As the Phillies continue to make smaller moves that contribute to their rebuild, the rumors will continue because it only gets more obvious that Hamels will inevitably be dealt.
