The Philadelphia Phillies continue to straddle the fence when it comes to their course of action with left-handed ace Cole Hamels. Furthermore, they seem to be stuck in the mentality of trade deadlines long past, at least as far as their current circumstances are concerned. For some reason, they are still seemingly caught up on the notion that part of a trade should be salary relief.
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What Ruben Amaro Jr. and the Philadelphia front office seem to misunderstand is that money is essentially no object to them with a new television deal on the way. They certainly have the money to keep Hamels; if they trade him, it should strictly be in the interest of committing to a much-needed rebuilding project.
The number one priority should be the prospects that come in return. If a potential trade partner, even an equally rich team such as the Boston Red Sox, wants the Phillies to pick up some salary, then they should do it for the right package. As long as they are getting the players they want, there is no reason to hard-line the contract issue in negotiations.
According to Nick Cafardo, the Phillies would indeed want three top prospects and to get out from under every cent of Hamels’ deal if they were to trade him.
"One major league source said if the Phillies get a taker on the full contract and they get three top prospects, he’s gone, and Hamels, according to another major league source, wouldn’t mind."
The Phillies truly do not have to move Hamels and arguably should not move him. In that sense, money does not have to be a factor either direction.
If they decide that he is available and receive the prospects they want in a proposed deal, are they really going to turn it down over money if the other team is not willing to pick up the full contract?
If those two conditions are actually connected, then the Phillies aren’t doing it right.