For over a year, the Philadelphia Phillies have dangled their ace Cole Hamels out to opposing teams, letting them know that he’s available in a trade. In that time, they’ve talked to several teams, but have never gotten a deal done.

Don’t be surprised if a deal still isn’t done by the July 31 trade deadline.

While it would appear the Phillies should and will trade Hamels this deadline, there are a few things working against them at the moment. First of all, he has been wildly inconsistent lately, which has given some teams pause.

Secondly, David Price has reportedly entered the trade market, making Hamels the third best arm on the market behind the Detroit Tigers’ ace and Johnny Cueto. Obviously, with teams dealing for better players, Hamels’ trade value gets diminished.

Most importantly, Philly doesn’t have to trade their ace this deadline. Unlike Price and Cueto, he is still under contract past this season. In fact, he still has three years left on his deal with a fourth-year team option.

His trade value isn’t going to change much between now and this offseason. If the Phillies don’t truly get an offer they love, their hands shouldn’t be forced into making a deal.

Since this is such a unique case, in which a star pitcher still has multiple years of team control left on his deal, there is a considerable amount of dissent amongst MLB front office executives on whether or not Hamels will be dealt at the deadline.

Add in the fact that the Phillies want to start rebuilding and that Hamels is the piece that can net them the biggest return, and people around baseball are truly facing a conundrum.

Hamels be dealt at the trade deadline if the price is right. With two pitchers commanding bigger prospect returns than the Phillies’ ace, the price might not be right before July 31.

That’s precisely why nobody should be surprised if Hamels is still in a Phillies uniform for the remainder of the 2015 season.