Philadelphia Phillies ponder options concerning trade and contract extension of Cole Hamels-MLB
With the trade deadline around the corner, the Philadelphia Phillies soon will be deciding the fate of their starting pitcher Cole Hamels. According to the sources, with regard to contract extension the Phillies fear the Los Angeles Dodgers as a potential
team that can take Hamels from free agency by offering him the maximum amount of money.
Regarding the trade, the Los Angeles Angels and the Texas Rangers are the candidates which are under the consideration of Philadelphia. If the Phillies finally decide about becoming a seller, they will view these clubs favourably, because their farm system
hosts amazing prospects.
According to the scouts, the Phillies suffer loop-holes in their farm system. They lack enough prospects in the Minor League that can sustain the organisation for years to come. Therefore, by trading Hamels to those teams that can offer them quality prospects
in exchange, they can revamp their farms.
Meanwhile, as far as the contract extension is concerned, the Phillies are h**l-bent to keep Hamels in the club for a long time period. It is for the same reason that they have offered him $120 million for five years. It is a maximum that they can manage,
considering other financial obligations they have on roster to the rest of the players.
The scouts claim if Hamels remains unimpressed with the money that the Phillies have offered, he is going to earn one of the most extravagant deals in the history of the game from Dodgers through free agency.
“I hate to use the tampering word, but I guarantee you that it has been made very clear to the Hamels camp in some way that if he reaches free agency the Dodgers would be willing to make him the highest-paid pitcher ever or something close to it,” one of
the scouts said.
Scouts maintain that the Dodgers are nearly praying that through some way Hamels escapes the Phillies and joins them. Furthermore, the Dodgers' ownership has left no doubt in their intentions about acquiring Hamels.
Meanwhile, the negotiations are underway between Hamels and Philadelphia. Soon, one can expect a watershed development in this regard. It will be interesting to know which club will finally have Hamels on its roster.
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