The MLB trade market appears to be crowded with pitching talent. David Price is currently up for grabs as the Tampa Bay Rays seek to shed his large contract. Several teams are interested in the All-Star, so what happens when only one wins out? The Philadelphia Phillies might be helping with that as they put two of their top aces on the trade blocks.
Buster Olney of ESPN is reporting that both Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee are being shopped at the winter meetings. The Phillies have previously said they have no intention of trading both pitchers, considering there would be a big hole in their starting rotation without them, but Philadelphia could get a large package of young talent if they opt to get rid of one or both pitchers.
So which pitcher is the better trade option? Hamels is likely the more desirable considering he is six years younger than Lee who is 35-years-old right now. Contracts will likely play the bigger role in a trade, something Lee wins with. Hamels is owed $112.5 million over five seasons. Lee is only owed $25 million in each of the next two seasons with an option for 2016. Teams will have to determine if Hamels is worth all of that money when his contract runs out at age 35.
In the battle of stats, Lee wins with a 2.80 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in the past three years. Hamels posted a 3.15 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in that time frame. Both have finished in top-10 for Cy Young voting multiple times in their careers and have been standout starters in the national league. Without them, the Phillies rotation is left to Kyle Kendrick, Jonathan Pettibone and Miguel Gonzalez.
The futures of Hamels and Lee will likely play out after a trade is made for Price. Teams like the Dodgers, Mariners, Rangers and Yankees are all in play for Price. Whoever fails to sign him might go after Hamels or Lee. The Boston Red Sox have attempted to sign Lee in the past but there is no word on whether or not they remain interested.
Lee might be the easier to trade right now, while Hamels could be valuable down the road. Giving up both pitchers make the Phillies a lot less competitive in their division, but would allow them to stock up on talent for the future.
