10:20am: ESPN's Jayson Stark tweets that the only way the Phillies would move Hamels or Lee would be in a "win-win" situation in which they receivea huge return and shed the entirety of the remaining salary. In other words, a trade is unlikely.
8:18am: Jon Heyman of CBS Sports also hears that both Philadelphia aces are in play, but the Phillies won't eat any of the remaining money on either contract (Twitter link).
8:13am: The Phillies have indicated to other teams that they're willing to discuss Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee in trades, according to ESPN's Buster Olney (on Twitter).
General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. is apparently being quite open-minded at this year's Winter Meetings, as he's also said to be "actively shopping" Domonic Brown on the heels of Brown's 2013 breakout. Given the number of teams looking to acquire established pitchers, adding Hamels and/or Lee to a market that already includes David Price and Jeff Samardzija would give interested teams more options to choose from.
Hamels will be 30 at the end of this month and is guaranteed $112.5MM through the 2018 season ($22.5MM annually) with a $24MM vesting option for 2019. Though he started the season slowly, the left-hander posted a very Hamels-like 2.73 ERA from June 1 through season's end, finishing with a 3.60 ERA, 8.3 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9.
Lee, 35, will earn $25MM in each of the next two seasons and has a $27.5MM vesting option for the 2016 campaign. He pitched to a 2.87 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 1.3 BB/9 in 222 2/3 innings, giving him a league-leading 6.94 K/BB ratio.
Hairston isn’t a good hitter at all. Hes a .257 hitter for his career and hit 10 homeruns twice over 16 years.
I’m sure Vick is rubbing off something positive to Foles.
As long as it’s not canine related.
The rumors for Utley were before they extended him. Utley isn’t going anywhere until his contract is up.
Well right field, you got Ruf who averages 32 homeruns over 162 games. Who on gods green earth thought Ruiz would get more then Salty. They could’ve got Salty for Ruiz’s contract. Higher offensive upside.
I’d be very interested in seeing what an actual trade involving Lee or Hamels would end up as…doubt we will see it though.
Ohkay i’ll find you in a year when they do. These things change dramatically year to year. They have a ton of talent in the lower minors that will be moving up a level this year and added 3 first rounders last year, 2 of which are college bats.