Should the Philadelphia Phillies consider trading Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels?

[Photo Credit: Philly.com]

All offseason there have been rumors going around about the Phillies possibly being open to trading their two best pitchers, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels. I can definitely see why the Phillies would want to trade them, but I can also see why the Phillies would want to hold on to them. The Phillies are in a very odd situation right now, a lot of people want them to try to win this season but a lot of people want them to blow the team up. The decision to try to trade one, or two, of their two aces definitely depends on what strategy the Phillies are using.

If the Phillies were to trade Cliff Lee, they would likely get back one or two decent prospects and they would be giving up a very large contract. So, they would be getting a good return for him, most likely. If they were to trade Cole Hamels, they would probably be getting back about the same return, but maybe some even better prospects. Cole Hamels is worth more than Cliff Lee because Hamels is five years younger and basically just as good as Lee. So there is no doubt that the Phillies would be getting a good return for either pitcher. Trading these guys would improve the Phillies’ depleted farm system and they would have more money to spend.

While trading these two guys would have some great benefits, holding onto them would be good as well. Lee posted a 2.87 ERA last season, and Hamels had an ERA of 3.60. 3.60 isn’t too good but his ERA was only that high because he started the season out awfully. Usually Hamels’ ERA is in the 2.70-3.20 range. If you hold on to these guys then you have one of the best pitching staffs in the National League, but if you trade them then you have one of the worst.

The Phillies would be getting a good return for these two guys but if they held onto them then they would have two of the best pitchers in the entire MLB, so really, whatever they do is good. If the Phillies are going to blow the entire team up, then yes, I want the Phillies to trade these guys. But if the Phillies are going to go for the playoffs this year, then no, I don’t want the Phillies to trade Lee and Hamels. The Phillies have to choose one or the other, and that’s pretty much just what this comes down to. If I had to decide between blowing the team up and trying to go to the playoffs, I would choose blowing the team up. So I guess you could say that I think the Phillies should trade Cliff Lee, and (or) Cole Hamels.