Phillies shopping Brown, Lee, Hamels

[ThomasTomasz]

ORLANDO - The Philadelphia Phillies are "actively shopping" All-Star outfielder Domonic Brown in an attempt to land a starting pitcher, reports Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports.

Passan notes the Phillies' idea here would be to sell high.

Trading Brown now would certainly be selling high. The 26-year-old Brown is coming off a breakout season in which he hit .272/.324/.494 (123 OPS+) with 21 doubles, 27 homers and 83 RBI in 139 games. He won't hit free agency until after the 2017 season and actually isn't even arbitration-eligible yet, so he's a very attractive trade candidate for teams seeking power from the corner outfield spots this winter.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on...port-phillies-actively-shopping-domonic-brown

 

[ThomasTomasz]

CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman reports that the Phillies are willing to trade lefty co-aces Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee. However, Heyman also reports that the Phils are not willing to include cash in any deal involving either hurler.

That's significant because Hamels, at minimum is signed through 2018 at a cost of $112.5 million (there's also a $24-million vesting option for 2019). As for Lee, he's owed $25 million for each of the next two seasons, and in 2016 his contract includes a $27.5-million vesting option/$12.5-million buyout.

The Phillies' reluctance to defray any of those costs will surely be an impediment to getting anything done, but, on the other hand, each pitcher has a history of excellence. Hamels, who turns 30 later this month, owns a career 123 OPS+ to go with a K/BB ratio of 3.83. Three times he's been named to the All-Star team, and three times he's finished in the top 10 of the NL Cy Young balloting.

Meanwhile, Lee, age 35, has pitched to a 119 ERA+ and 3.88 K/BB for his career. Lee's also paced the majors in K/BB in each of the last two seasons, and he's logged at least 211 innings in each of the last six seasons.

Needless to say, either pitcher could be a huge benefit to a contender, but said contender will need to assume all remaining salary obligations.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on...ake-cole-hamels-cliff-lee-available-for-trade

But Utley is considered a key to the franchise moving forward......:jonesy: