Part of the art of diplomacy involves pitting the interest of one group against another. Judging from what the Philadelphia Phillies have been offered so far in trade negotiations involving ace pitcher Cole Hamels, current GM Ruben Amaro would be wise to study up on it.

Right now, the three most mentioned potential suitors in the Hamels Sweepstakes are the Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers. On the fringes looking in are teams like the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

So far, the most intriguing name mentioned in return for Hamels has been Yasiel Puig of the Dodgers, but that did not move the Phillies needle nor should it. One of the packages the Cubs reportedly offered included slugger Javier Baez and shortstop Starlin Castro. The Phillies were not enthused by that offer, if it was indeed ever made. Some Phillies sources are now saying that deal was never offered and the Cubs are even being stingier than that.

That’s where the Phillies should tell the Cubs thanks but no thanks because the pressure to go from contention to actually winning in the postseason should move either the Rangers or Dodgers to make better offers. If the Cubs are really serious players about winning, they could come back into the negotiations.

The risk in all of this is that the Rangers, Dodgers and Cubs will continually try to low-ball the Phillies right up until the Friday non-waiver trade deadline. In this type of diplomacy, though, the Phillies hold all of the cards because keeping Hamels would not be the worst thing they could do.

Giving him away would.

Mike Gibson is a MLB Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @papreps , “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.