Pete Mackanin said something prior to Wednesday's game against the Brewers that you don't often hear a manager say, no matter how much of a foregone conclusion it seems to be at the time.
With the trade deadline now less than a month away, the Phillies interim manager told reporters it's "probable" that the team trades its best player, Cole Hamels, at some point in July.
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Hamels, 31, is 5-6 with a 3.22 ERA in 16 starts and has pitched extremely well considering the dire state of the Phillies overall. To say his talents are going to waste pitching for a team destined to finish last would be an understatement.
He's likely Ruben Amaro's most valuable trade asset, as he's been relatively healthy throughout his career -- he's reached at least 190 innings pitched seven straight years -- and has a contract that, while pricey, is still quite team friendly.
Here's a look at his deal compared to what Scherzer got this offseason (via baseball-reference.com):
YEAR | AGE | SALARY |
2016 | 32 | $23,500,000 |
2017 | 33 | $23,500,000 |
2018 | 34 | $23,500,000 |
2019 | 35 | $20M team option OR $24M vesting* option OR $6M buyout |
*Vesting option kicks in if Hamels:
1) has 400 IP in 2017-18, including 200 IP in 2018, AND
2) is not on the disabled list with a shoulder or elbow injury at the end of the 2018 season
The Phillies have yet to find a team willing to give up the prospects they desire in exchange for the former World Series MVP. But if Mackanin says a trade is "probable," perhaps their asking price is going to come down. Or maybe they think a team will cave and give them what they ask for.
As the team continues its attempt to rebuild, there will likely be other big-name players -- like Jonathan Papelbon -- that get traded, but so far there have been only rumors.
Those rumors will only increase in volume in the coming weeks until they reach a crescendo on July 31.