Cole Hamels’ Locker Emptied, Nameplate Removed (As a Joke)

People thought the Phillies had traded Cole Hamels — for about five minutes.

The Phillies ended their 9-game losing streak today with a 2-1 win over Baltimore, with both runs coming on a Ryan Howard sixth-inning homer. (The Orioles actually led off the game with a homer.)

Earlier in the day, the Phillies announced Cole Hamels would skip his next start with a mild hamstring tear in his right leg. Phillippe Aumont, who came to the Phillies in the first Cliff Lee trade, will start instead. After the game, however, someone had removed Cole Hamels’ nameplate and emptied out his locker.

AP sports reporter (and reality star) Rob Maaddi noticed.

Had Hamels been traded? Speculation swirled on Twitter… for five minutes, until the team said he was still a Phillie.

This prank isn’t quite Evan Mathis level, but it’s pretty good. You almost had us there, anonymous prankster.

The Phillies are still 23-45, 13.5 games back in the National League East. Reports say they’re trying to trade many of their older players in an effort to rebuild, but so far no one is biting. The trade deadline is July 31st.