Phillies could trade Cole Hamels after all

Earlier this week, we learned that the Philadelphia Phillies and left hander Cole Hamels were working towards a long-term deal. And today, Joel Sherman of the New York Post said that Hamels hasn’t accepted their offer yet increasing the likelihood of him being traded.

An executive outside the Phillies organization told Sherman that the Phillies’ offer to Hamels could be for at least six-years and $140 million, although a couple of weeks ago, reports indicated that the offer was in the $120 million range.

Back in March, I speculated that Hamels could ask for a C.J. Wilson’s type deal with the Angels (5-year $77.5 million), and that I wouldn’t go beyond five-years and $95 million, but apparently Hamels and his agent think he deserves better than Sabathia, Wilson, Matt Cain (five-year, $112 million) and Cliff Lee (five-year, $120 million).

Hamels, 28, is 11-4 with a 3.23 ERA, 1.1 HR/9, 2.2 BB/9 and 8.8 SO/9 in 133.2 innings with the Phillies this season.

Image by SD Dirk under the Creative Commons License Agreement.