Philadelphia Phillies: How Phillies Can Gain Leverage in Cole Hamels Talks

Cole Hamels is as elite of a pitcher as it gets.

All the attention goes to Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee as the aces of the Philadelphia Phillies, but what about the only World Series MVP on the staff?

That's right, I'm talking about the fun-loving, wavy-haired, San Diegoan Cole Hamels. But he is the No. 3 starting pitcher for an already-stacked pitching staff. As dominant as Halladay and Lee are, Hamels is just as vital to the Phils as the two aces.

If Cole were on any other MLB team, he would arguably be the ace. 

So actually it's quite simple for the Phillies: Pay Cole what he is worth. He is more than capable of providing 20—if not more—wins.

But where is this money going to come from? Well, if they can pay the astronomical prices of the two aces and the under-performing Ryan Howard, I'm sure Ruben Amaro, Jr. has enough tricks up his sleeve to dish out the dough to the more than deserving Hamels.

He single-handedly led the Fightins to the 2008 World Series Championship.

What Ruben and the rest of the organization need to do is let him know how important and crucial he is to the club.

If it were not for Hamels, there would be no 2008 World Series Championship. It's as simple as that.

Tell and let Cole know how important he is to Philly. If Ruben does this, Cole will, without a doubt, spend his entire career in Philadelphia and be forced to wear No. 35 for as long as he plays in the City of Brotherly Love.