While Cole Hamels and Shane Victorino top the list of Phillies Most Likely to be Traded, Hunter Pence will quickly take over the #Phillies2012FireSale.
According to MLBTradeRumors, the Phillies are telling teams Mr. “Let’s Go Eat” can be had.
The Phillies are indicating to other teams that they’re eager to move Hunter Pence. The right fielder will remain under team control through 2013, when he’s expected to obtain a raise and earn $13-14MM.
Moving Pence is logical when you consider that he’s not a star. He had a chance to carry the Phils lineup with Chase and Big Piece out. He flopped and, if not for Chooch taking pressure of off Pence, who knows how bad it would have been.
Trading Hunter Pence could help give the Phillies flexibility moving forward.
The Phillies could take the $14 million he’s going to get and re-sign Victorino and likely add a lesser “name” outfielder in his place. Cody Ross signed a 1-year, $3 million deal with Boston this year. He’s hitting .269 with 16 HRs and 50 RBI. Pence, meanwhile, is hitting .268 with 17 HRs and 57 RBI.
Additionally, he will bring more in a trade than Victorino. Pence is still under club control next year. A team can trade for him for a run this year and next year. He is not a 60-game rental. That is precisely the reason Houston was able to get such a large booty from the Phillies last summer.
Are you going to get four top prospects for Pence? Doubtful. But, if you can move him for one top guy and a couple of lesser ones, that will take away some of the sting when Jonathon Singleton is bashing homers in Houston.
