The Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly looking to trade closer Jonathan Papelbon. That we knew. Now word that the team is willing to listen to offers to starters Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee according to ESPN’s Buster Olney.
The possible sticking point is the team is unwilling to eat any part of the salaries in a potential deal. That means they would not get much of a return even if they did find a team willing to take on the $112 million owed to Hamels through 2018, or the $25 million Lee is owed in each of the next two seasons.
Lee’s deal also carries with it a $27.5 million vesting option for the 2016 season.
The more options for teams looking for higher end pitching the more opportunity for the Phillies right?
This is on the heels of Amaro saying the team was focused on pitching.
“We are more focused on trying to add starting pitching depth more than anything else,” Amaro said. Then why trade one of the best starters on the team?
Yesterday is was reported that the team was shopping Domonic Brown hoping to sell high on his 2013 breakout season. And the beat goes on. Rob Neyer speculated earlier today that the Phillies Phanatic might be on the trade block at this point for Philadelphia.
Amaro, like every other GM in baseball has to listen to every offer for any player, it is what they do. We will be here to report anything that happens for the Phillies.
