Phillies Trade News and Updates

 

With the MLB Trade Deadline on Thursday, many around the league are anxious to see the moves that will be made and/or not made. Around Philadelphia there has been endless buzz since arguably the season started about what the Phillies roster would look like in August. Names such as Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Marlon Byrd, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jonathon Papelbon have been thrown around in rumors since at least March.

Now it is time to see who will be in Philadelphia come August 1st. Here is the latest surrounding the Phillies as we approach the trade deadline.

*Note: This page will be updated as news comes in. Stay tuned right here”

 

Jonathon Papelbon

According to a report by Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Jonathon Papelbon has told the Phillies that he will not waive his no-trade clause unless he is traded to a team where he will be the full-time closer right away. Papelbon is due around $12 million a year going forward, but the Phillies are reportedly willing to “eat” at least some of that money if he is moved. The market for the closer is thin, so it seems unlikely that Papelbon will be moved at the deadline.

 

Cole Hamels

UPDATE #4 (Wednesday 2:47 pm): Peter Gammons reports that the Dodgers are no longer in on Cole Hamels, and have made it clear that their top prospects are off limits.

 

UPDATE #3 (Wednesday 11:50 am): The Cardinals are showing interest in Cole Hamels, and the Phillies have sent a scout to watch their Triple-A team.

 

UPDATE #2 (Tuesday 9:00 pm): The Dodgers have inquired about Hamels, however, the Phillies have asked for Joc Pederson, Cory Seager, and Julio Urias in return. The Dodgers are not willing to give up all three prospects for Hamels, while the Phillies are standing pat with that offer.

 

UPDATE #1 : According to Jon Morosi, Hamels is on the market and the asking price is high, as reported above, and a rival GM even put the Phillies asking price as  “asking the world”. The Dodgers and Cardinals have emerged as a possible suitor for the lefty as well.

Jayson Stark reports that the Phillies are asking for teams top three or four prospects in any deal for Hamels, while eating just about $10 million out of his $90 million remaining on his contract.

 

Cole Hamels is the player who seems least likely to be dealt at the trade deadline. While the Phillies are taking calls on Hamels, their asking price is said to be too high. The Phillies were reportedly asking for at least three prospects in a deal for Hamels, but now it seems that they want more than that.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, reports that the Phillies are simply looking for a “fair deal” for any of their veteran players.

The Yankees have been linked to Hamels in rumors, but they lack the prospects to get a deal done for the ace.

 

Cliff Lee 

UPDATE #3 (Wednesday 2:00 pm): CBS Sports reports that the Phillies are willing to “pay down” some of Cliff Lee’s contract in a trade for the right prospects. While the lefty may not be dealt by tomorrow, it is “very likely” an August deal could happen.

 

UPDATE #2 (Wednesday 11:50 am): The Cardinals have interest in Cliff Lee as well as Cole Hamels and A.J. Burnett.

 

UPDATE #1 (Tuesday 9:00 pm): Jayson Stark reports that the Phillies have not yet abandoned hope of dealing Cliff Lee before Thursday’s trade deadline.

 

Since returning from his elbow injury, Cliff Lee hasn’t exactly increased his chances of being dealt by July 31st. Since returning, Lee has given up 9 earned runs in 10.2 innings of work (7.29 ERA) and has a WHIP of 2.25. One MLB Executive said that Lee may be more useful at this point for his bat rather than his pitching at the trade deadline, after going 2-2 with a RBI in his last start against Arizona.

The Red Sox reportedly have not inquired about Lee, and the Yankees seem to have little interest as well. It is very possible that Cliff Lee could be moved in August if he is put on waivers, but that is still something that is not a “lock” to happen.

If Lee is not moved this season, he will be a very attractive name this winter.

 

Marlon Byrd

UPDATE #2: Per Jayson Stark, the Mariners are “out” on Marlon Byrd. The Yankees are still looming, but are “weary” of his 2016 option.

 

UPDATE #1: The Giants and Reds have thrown their names back into the mix for Marlon Byrd, with the Reds being the more likely of the two to strike a deal.

 

Perhaps the best offensive player the Phillies have had all year, Marlon Byrd is drawing some interest from teams around the league. The 36 year old right outfielder has 20 home runs, 60 RBI’s, while batting a respectable .266 this season.

While Byrd has a market, his contract may be a little to big for some teams, which could cause a problem in moving the outfielder. Three teams that have shown interest in Byrd are the Yankees, Mariners, and Royals. The Mariners and Royals however, are on Byrd’s no-trade list and would require Byrd to waive his no-trade clause to be dealt to those teams.

The issue with that is, Byrd reportedly will only waive his no-trade clause to those teams if they pick up his 2016 option, another $8 million.

Byrd ranks 4th in the NL in home runs, and 8th in RBI’s, so there is no doubt he could be a very good contributor to a contender, but are those teams willing to pay the price?

 

Ryan Howard 

The Ryan Howard saga continues, and this is maybe the most intense it has ever been. Howard has not been the Ryan Howard who was given a five-year, $125 million contract extension back in 2010. After tearing his ACL as he made the final out of the Phillies season against the Cardinals back in the 2011 NLDS series, Howard has simply not been the same. This year Howard is hitting .227 with 16 home runs and 62 RBI’s. The power production of home runs and RBI’s don’t seem too bad, but the .227 batting average makes those stats significantly less important.

Making $25 million per season, Howard is all but impossible to trade. The numbers on his contract and on his stat sheet just aren’t numbers that teams look at and can either afford or want.

The Phillies know that.

The Phillies reportedly have discussed the idea of releasing Howard after the season is over and swallowing the remaining $60 million on his contract. They also have been “trying hard” to trade Howard, and are again willing to eat most of his salary, but his market is very thin. Along with Cole Hamels, Howard seems very unlikely to be moved, but for completely different reasons.

 

Antonio Bastardo

UPDATE #3 (Wednesday at 6:35 pm): Jim Salisbury reports that the Royals have shown interest in Antonio Bastardo. They have also been linked to A.J. Burnett recently.

 

UPDATE #2 (Wednesday at 6:02 pm): Per Jayson Stark, the Yankees have shown interest in Bastardo.

 

UPDATE #1 (Tuesday at 2:18 pm): Jon Morosi reports that the Pirates are showing interest in Antonio Bastardo.

 

According to Fox, the Phillies have been getting “A lot of action” on Bastardo, and are in talks with multiple teams for him as well as Marlon Byrd.

 

A.J. Burnett

UPDATE #2 (Wednesday 11:50 am): The Cardinals are showing interest in A.J. Burnett, as well as Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee.

 

UPDATE #1 (Tuesday 9:00 pm): Jayson Stark reports that talks between the Phillies and Pirates for A.J. Burnett are all but “dead”.

 

TUESDAY (4:36 pm): Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reports that the Royals have at least “some interest” in A.J. Burnett.

 

 

For all the latest Phillies news and rumors make sure to follow Sam Shipley on twitter: @samshipley5

Tags: Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Jonathon Papelbon, marlon byrd, Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan Howard, Sam Shipley