MLB Trade Rumors: Blue Jays Would Be Smart to Pursue Cole Hamels

The Philadelphia Phillies have gotten off to a slow start this year, and if that trend continues, serious questions will have to be asked before the July 31 trade deadline. One of the biggest dilemmas the team faces is what to do with soon-to-be free-agent pitcher Cole Hamels. 

While there have not been serious discussions about trading him, the Toronto Blue Jays have at least called to kick the tires about Hamels' availability, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. 

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According to major league sources, at least one club — the Toronto Blue Jays — already has engaged in dialogue with the Phils about their top potential free agents, left-hander Cole Hamels and Shane Victorino.

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Rosenthal does put this in context by writing that Toronto general manger Alex Anthopoulos "routinely calls on star players" and that the Phillies are not going to give up on the season easily because they want to see what changes when Chase Utley and Ryan Howard return. 

But the question I keep asking myself is, why wouldn't both sides want to at least explore a deal?

The Phillies are a mess right now. They have three aces at the top of their starting rotation, but also have a lot of bad contracts and aging players who are in the process of declining or on the verge of declining very soon. To make matters worse, their farm system has been depleted over the last three years because of all the trades they made to acquire Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Hunter Pence, among others. 

With their window of contention closing rapidly, the Phillies would be foolish to not look at all possible avenues to remain competitive in five years. 

For the Blue Jays, their window of opportunity is just starting to open. Anthopoulos has done a remarkable job of building one of baseball's best and deepest farm systems through a series of shrewd trades and the draft. Assuming they were able to figure out a way to sign Hamels to a long-term contract extension, giving up three impact prospects for a top-of-the-rotation starter would push them into contention in the American League East. 

They have started the year strong, but eventually, the rest of the division is going to catch up to them. If they added an impact arm to put alongside Ricky Romero, Brandon Morrow and Kyle Drabek, they would suddenly look a lot more formidable in a short playoff series. Plus, with their farm being so deep, they can give up three impact players and not mortgage their entire future on one player. 

While there may not be any incentive for either side to do a deal right now, if both clubs keep up the pace they have set in the early stages of the season, they would be well-served to open negotiations. 

For more potential trade analysis and an overload of information on the art of the sacrifice fly, be sure to check me out on Twitter. 

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