Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
According to anyone who claims to know anything about MLB, the Philadelphia Phillies are definitely sellers this trade season. That could be great news for competing clubs and even great news for the future of the Phillies if indeed it happens to be true. They are not in the mix once again and it could add a good bit of value to their franchise to sell key veterans at a decent price. But haven’t we heard this before?
Every season the Phillies say the same thing about their veterans yet most of them are still there. Sure, they are veterans who know how to play the game and have value, but if an MLB GM wants to trade someone, he will find someone who is willing to pay any decent price. But again, haven’t we seen this before with the Phillies? I think we have.
Just after the trade talk begins every season we begin to hear that this team or that team would be interested in Cole Hamels or Jonathan Papelbon but the price is way too high. Over and over the Phillies seem to take the stance that they will trade their veterans but only if someone pays double the price in prospects.
It is possible that the Phillies will actually trade some of their big names, especially Papelbon who has been rumored in talks the Phillies are having with the Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays. Maybe this is the season that the big sell will happen and the future will get brighter because of the young talent that GM Ruben Amaro Jr brings in. After all, they did finally trade Jimmy Rollins.
Hopefully for all fans of this great franchise there will be a few names traded this season but only if Amaro is serious about the return and not trying to ask for the moon in return for a flashlight. Many teams will be interested in Hamels for example, but nobody is going to trade five prospects and take on all his salary for only him.
Don’t get me wrong, Amaro should ask for a lot for these guys, but he has to be sensible about the price like he was when he finally sent Rollins away. Shoot high and be willing to come down and they will be traded for a good return. Amaro certainly has the ability to make these trades take place if he really wants them to happen. Just be careful believing it will happen until someone really is traded this season.
David Miller is an MLB Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
