Phillies Trade Rumors

"Cashman is in the final year of his contract and missing the playoffs could surely result in a change of GMs. That would make Cashman a free agent. And that would put him in play in Philadelphia, where there will be a job opening when Pat Gillick retires in the fall. Cashman was between contracts when Gillick got the job in the fall of 2005. The Yankees GM was thinking about where he might end up if he was not renewed, and the Phillies job appealed to him. He admitted that in this space in 2005."

"Pat Gillick said the Phillies are still hoping to add a lefthander to the bullpen, despite acquiring veteran Steve Kline a couple of weeks ago. Gillick said that Kline, currently pitching at Triple A Lehigh Valley, is "possibly" the answer."

"Dodgers management is encouraged enough by the play of DeWitt and the progress of the injured third base threesome that they again rebuffed Philadelphia when they were approached about a trade involving Wes Helms this week, according to baseball sources. The Phillies have also offered Helms, whom they designated for assignment this week, to Florida and Atlanta."

"Club sources say the Giants have no interest in third baseman Wes Helms, whom Philadelphia designated for assignment."

"Phillies officials wouldn't confirm that Seanez has been picked up one game into the season, after its bullpen was charged with seven runs in four innings on Opening Day, apparently because Seanez still has to pass a physical. Sources said, however, that he is expected to be in uniform in time for tonight's game against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. If that's the case, a roster move will have to be made. The Phillies could put a pitcher on the disabled list, could designate recently acquired Tim Lahey for assignment or could make a move with Wes Helms."

"Free-agent second baseman Marcus Giles recanted on the agreement he made with the Dodgers in the morning to play third base at their triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas for 1-2 weeks to make his case to earn a spot on their major league roster. Giles went as far as to start driving to Nevada from his home in Lake Havasu, Ariz., but he didn't get far... Wes Helms of the Philadelphia Phillies could be the replacement at third for the Dodgers that Giles wasn't."

"The Phillies' search for pitching has reportedly landed them another reliever. A story in today's Los Angeles Times reported that the Phillies have signed 39-year-old right-hander Rudy Seanez, who was released by the Dodgers last week. Phillies general manager Pat Gillick would not confirm the signing when reached by telephone this morning, but the Times reported Seanez would be activated by the Phillies before Wednesday's game against the Nationals."

"After an Opening Day where the bullpen's deficiencies were on full display, the Phillies have reportedly made a move to add another arm. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Rudy Seanez, who was cut loose by the Dodgers last week, has signed with the Phillies and will be at Citizens Bank Park for Wednesday night's game."

"The Phillies would like to add another lefthander to the bullpen, and the San Francisco Giants designated veteran southpaw Steve Kline for assignment a couple of days ago. But assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said yesterday the Phillies aren't seeking to add Kline "at this time" . . ."

"General Manager Ned Colletti has been speaking to other clubs about possible trades, targeting players with short and inexpensive contracts for what they expect to be short-term replacement duty. They are believed to be interested in Philadelphia's Wes Helms. Tampa Bay's Eric Hinske is also reportedly on the market."

"Wes Helms' job is safe -- for now. The Phillies made several roster moves on Friday, none of which involved the veteran third baseman, who's hitting just .256 in 21 spring games."

" Reds veteran left-hander Mike Stanton or Rockies lefty Brian Fuentes may be available, but the price tag for Fuentes would figure to be high. The Phillies have also flirted previously with veteran lefty reliever Steve Kline, who is not assured of a job with the Giants. And San Francisco may be shopping for an infielder after utility man Kevin Frandsen ruptured his Achilles' tendon. Wes Helms, anyone?"

"The Phillies would love to be able to trade Helms. The Giants (for veteran lefthander Steve Kline) and the Reds (for experienced lefty Mike Stanton) are among the teams they are believed to be talking to."

"Reds veteran left-hander Mike Stanton or Rockies lefty Brian Fuentes may be available, but the pricetag for Fuentes would figure to be high. The Phillies also have flirted previously with veteran lefty reliever Steve Kline, who is not assured of a job with the Giants."

"As of yesterday, the Phillies and Kris Benson had not discussed their long-term plans, the veteran righthander said. Benson, who signed a minor league deal with the team last month, has an opt-out clause in his contract that takes effect today if he is not added to the 40-man roster... The Indians released former Phillies reliever Aaron Fultz yesterday, but don't expect him land in Philadelphia."

"Third baseman Miguel Cabrera has agreed to an eight-year, $153.3 million contract extension with the Detroit Tigers. It seems safe to say Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard won't be looking for anything less than that in future negotiations."

"Wes Helms hit his first home run of the spring yesterday, and manager Charlie Manuel said afterward he thinks the third baseman will be able to help a major league team this season. Whether that team is the Phillies remains doubtful. They continue to explore potential trades for the third baseman, who has done an admirable job of blocking out the speculation while hitting .289 this spring."

"The Phils have to place righthander Kris Benson on the 40-man roster no later than Tuesday or he can opt out of his minor-league contract. If he is placed on the roster, Benson receives a $500,000 salary in a contract with incentives that could reach $5.1 million."

"As the Phillies begin to put the final touches on their roster this week, it will be interesting to see what they do with expendable corner infielder Wes Helms. Trying to gauge interest in Helms, the Phils floated him untouched through waivers, according to major-league sources. "

"With eight shopping days before the season begins, general manager Pat Gillick said he is optimistic the Phillies may be able to acquire a relief pitcher."

"Assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and Mike Arbuckle both said the Phillies likely aren't interested in right-hander John Patterson, who was released Thursday by the Washington Nationals. It appears that Patterson, hampered last season by nerve damage in his right forearm, may sign a minor-league deal with the Astros."

"With 13 days to go before Opening Day, the Phillies are still evaluating their options involving infielder Wes Helms. With utility infielders Greg Dobbs and Eric Bruntlett in the fold, the third baseman appears to be out of a roster spot. The Phillies would like to trade him. Here's one move that seems to make sense: Helms to the Giants for lefthanded pitcher Steve Kline."

"Add the Dodgers to the list of teams that could have an interest in Wes Helms now that Andy LaRoche and Nomar Garciaparra are injured. Los Angeles will reassess its needs when the team regroups in Arizona after two exhibition games in Beijing, but could be looking for a backup third baseman at that point ."

"It would be big news (and bad news for the Phillies) if Jimmy Rollins had reflected on his brilliant 2007 MVP season and decided he no longer could bear to play under the contract he signed in June 2005."

" But a question Phillies fans want to know is how much is Hamels worth and did the team low-ball him? On the surface, without any careful examination, $500,000 seems like a small amount given the large contracts in baseball today."

"Veteran Jeff Cirillo (Providence High of Burbank), a free agent, remains unsigned. Meanwhile, there are at least three experienced third basemen - Philadelphia's Wes Helms, Detroit's Brandon Inge and the Chicago White Sox's Joe Crede - whose clubs are known to be either actively looking to unload them or at least open to the possibility."

"Published reports have right-hander Kyle Loshe willing to accept a one-year deal for between $4 and $10 million. "I will say at those numbers, we're probably not interested. Let me change that. At those numbers I know we're not interested," assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said."

"The Phils have bungled the handling of Cole Hamels' contract, and there's no other way to look at it. They have upset a valuable part of their roster, apparently because they had the right to do so."

"Phillies phenom pitcher Cole Hamels feels disrespected. Milwaukee Brewers slugging MVP candidate Prince Fielder is flat-out ticked off. The Phillies' Ryan Howard, a former Rookie of the Year and MVP, is as unhappy as a guy who is making $10 million for a single season is going to be."

"If Montgomery decides to search inside the organization, a likelihood, he would have two candidates, Ruben Amaro Jr. and Mike Arbuckle, both assistants under Gillick. People in the organization believe Amaro is the front-runner for the job. "

"This could be the 1-2 contract punch that Phillies fans have feared. Cole Hamels expressed his utter frustration yesterday that he could not come to an agreement with the team on his 2008 contract. Yesterday, the Phillies renewed his contract for $500,000, which is about $200,000 less than what Hamels had sought."

"The Phillies say they've treated ace lefthander Cole Hamels "fairly," and that renewing his contract at $500,000 yesterday reflects that. Hamels, however, begs to differ. While acknowledging that the team is being "business-savvy," the 24-year-old pitcher also said he felt disrespected by the deal, calling it a "low blow" that he will remember down the road."

"Hamels is bent out of shape over having his contract renewed yesterday. Howard was in a similar mood after having his deal renewed a year ago. The only difference is that Howard, with his extraordinary credentials, should have been upset. Hamels? Please."

"Once the initial shockwaves subsided, most baseball officials concluded Ryan Howard's record-setting $10 million arbitration award was an aberration that shouldn't impact future cases. And it wasn't nearly the devastating blow as initially believed it would be for the Phillies, who are probably resigned to going to arbitration every year with their superstar slugger, right up until he becomes eligible for free agency in 2012. He'll be 32 then."

"Cole Hamels obliged, signing hats, shirts, balls. He probably signed more autographs than he threw pitches early Friday afternoon. Sooner than later, though, these same fans will be pleading for the 24-year-old left-hander to sign something else — a long-term contract. "

"Hamels, the Phillies' ace left-hander, will be eligible for arbitration after this season. If he can stay healthy, he has the potential to become the team's first homegrown 20-game winner since Milford's Chris Short in 1966, and the Phillies would be faced with forking over major cash."

"Phillies president David Montgomery won't go the same route and chose a new general manager early. Although having a full season's notice that 2008 will be Pat Gillick's last as GM and with two strong in-house candidates available, Montgomery plans to wait until after the season before choosing from Phils assistant GMs Ruben Amaro Jr. and Mike Arbuckle, or someone else, as his new GM."

"Howard beat the Phillies in his much-anticipated salary-arbitration hearing. The 28-year-old first baseman will make a record $10 million this season... Sources have said that Howard is seeking more than the eight-year, $136 million contract that leftfielder Alfonso Soriano signed last year with the Chicago Cubs."

"There were plenty of questions yesterday, and Ryan Howard and the Phillies both did their best to dance around the majority of them. But in the wake of an arbitrator's decision to award the Phillies first baseman a record $10 million, this much is certain: The bar has been raised."

"Ryan Howard has been awarded his $10 million, which is a 1,011 percent increase over what he was making last season, which makes your fingers tremble a little just to type it. But now what? That this will become more expensive for the Phillies to complete a long-term deal with Howard sometime down the road pretty much goes without saying."

"Eventually, the Phillies will reopen talks on a multiyear deal, but the landscape has completely changed now. Howard's value is significantly more than the Phillies thought it was just a couple of days ago, so one has to wonder: Where will it be next off-season, and what will those negotiations be like?"

"Ryan Howard said little except to wait until today, when there would be a resolution. Howard and the Phillies had their much-anticipated salary arbitration hearing yesterday at the Renaissance Vinoy Hotel."

"This is what we know about Ryan Howard's arbitration hearing: * He wore a charcoal suit and a blue tie. * He arrived in his white Cadillac Escalade with Missouri plates, driving himself and his father, Ron."

"For the record, Ryan Howard was given a chance yesterday to assure Phillies fans that he will play in Philadelphia for a long time, regardless of what happens at today's arbitration hearing in St. Petersburg."

"The three arbitrators from an American Arbitration Association pool approved by both Major League Baseball and the players association will actually know a little about the game. Howard agent Casey Close will be able to sell the historical importance of his client's first two full seasons and liken his back-to-back Rookie of the Year and MVP awards to the debut seasons of first-ballot Hall of Famer Cal Ripken."

"Barring a last-minute settlement, Ryan Howard goes to the table today. The 28-year-old first baseman is seeking $10 million. The Phillies want to pay him $7 million. Oh, to be a potted palm in that hotel meeting room. It should be better than a Bobby Flay throwdown."

"Even with Feliz and utility man Greg Dobbs in the fold, Wes Helms might still have a job with the team this season. Signed as a third baseman last offseason, he was practicing fielding ground balls at first base yesterday."

"Burrell, 31, who said the title-clinching game was the best moment of his "baseball life," is beginning his ninth season in a Phillies uniform and his 11th in the organization, which made him the first overall pick in the June 1998 draft. But for the first time since he played baseball at the University of Miami, Burrell is unsure where he will be next year."

"Pat Burrell wants to stay with the Phillies. "One hundred percent," the outfielder said yesterday. Is the feeling mutual? "Well," he said, "we'll see.""

"Here's a tip for the Phillies on how to win their high-risk arbitration hearing with Ryan Howard tomorrow. Lose it. Take a dive. Make sure there's no way the three-man arbitration panel rules against the big first baseman."