Phillies Searching for Trades

Checking in on the Phillies’ offseason progress…

NBC Sports: Phillies CEO Pat Gillick admitted last month that the team isn’t likely to contend in 2015 or 2016. This puts them strictly on the rebound track. So it should come as no surprise that Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com heard from one rival executive at the general managers’ meetings today that the Phillies are “trying to blow the whole thing up” and “everyone is for sale.”

ESPN: In a piece posted today, ESPN Insider Buster Olney Insider casts doubt on whether Phillies lefty Cole Hamels would accept a trade to the American League on the basis of an old Greg Maddux adage — why pitch in the AL when you can do so with much less stress in the NL? Hamels, whom the Phillies are shopping this offseason and whom is due four years and $90 million on his current contract, has the ability to steer the trade conversation by virtue of his partial no-trade clause. Among the teams to which he can veto a trade is the Red Sox, Olney reports.

CSN: So what will it take to get Hamels? Industry sources say the Phils are looking for at least three top prospects, two that can play right now and another that isn’t far away. The Cubs and Red Sox are two known suitors and both have the farm systems to get a deal done — if they are willing to meet the Phillies’ rightfully high asking price. Amaro and interim club president Pat Gillick must play the Cubs and Red Sox (and maybe even the Dodgers) against each other as they try to maximize their return on Hamels. If they don’t get what they want, they should hang on to Hamels and float his name again in July when a pitching-thirsty contender might be more desperate to ante up.

ESPN: Now this would have made an interesting pairing: The Mets, in need of a shortstop, spoke with the Philadelphia Phillies about acquiring Jimmy Rollins in a trade, sources told ESPNNewYork.com. The pursuit since has been dismissed because Rollins does not want to leave Philadelphia, a source added.

CBSSports: The Royals are showing interest in acquiring Phillies veteran first baseman Ryan Howard, according to USA Today. Although, a source told the Philadelphia Daily News that Howard isn’t considered the top option for the Royals. Trading for Howard could be an option down the road, if the team’s first few options don’t pan out.

NJ.com: Cuban defector Yasmani Tomas is widely considered one of the hottest commodities on the open market this off-season and the Phillies are said to be among the front-runners to sign the 24-year old power hitting prospect. Two weeks ago Andy Martino of The New York Daily News called the Phillies ‘strong contenders’ to land Tomas.