What they're saying: Cole Hamels trade front

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The MLB trade deadline is this Friday and we could be getting close to the end of Cole Hamels' time in a Phillies uniform.

The 31-year old has been involved in trade talks all season, and with July 31 approaching, the rumors about where he could go continue to ramp up.

Even though the Rangers are reported to be the current front-runners in the Hamels' sweepstakes, there's still a handful of other teams that could be involved in an eventual deal.

Here's the latest on the Hamels trade front:

It's going to hurt
After Hamels' no-hitter at Wrigley Field on Saturday, Chicago Cubs fans got a glimpse of what could they could have following Friday's MLB trade deadline.

But as Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Sun-Times pointed out, it's going to cost the Cubs a whole lot to get it done and their fans might not like it.

"To get Cole Hamels, it should Addison Russell hurt. Or Kyle Schwarber hurt," Morrissey wrote Monday. "You say you can’t bear the pain of losing such promising young players? Then don’t go big-game hunting."

A player of Hamels' stature certainly brings with him a hefty price tag for any team looking to bolster its rotation during a stretch run to the playoffs. Morrissey writes that teams, and their fans, need to make sacrifices if they're going to try and make waves.

Luckily for Cubs fans, a deal involving Hamels will probably hurt Phillies fans too. Though the Philadelphia faithful will enjoy getting a good return, losing a former NLCS and World Series MVP will still sting.

The Phillies are certainly hoping the return they collect for Hamels will be one that can provide the franchise with a stock of talent that could produce for years to come.

What's the return going to be?
Not all teams are ready and willing to give up their top prospects for a chance at the ace, however.

A recently proposed trade with the Yankees saw the Phillies ask for either pitcher Luis Severino or outfielder Aaron Judge, but New York turned down the offer according to CBS' Jon Heyman.

"The Phillies' suggestion was a repeat of a request heard several times in talks between those teams," Heyman wrote on Sunday. "The Yankees have told all teams that have no intention to trade any of their four best prospects: Severino, Judge, first baseman Greg Bird and shortstop Jorge Mateo."

But the Yankees aren't the only ones that won't trade their top-two prospects. Heyman tweeted Sunday night that the Dodgers won't deal shortstop Corey Seager or pitcher Julio Urias, so don't expect either of those two to be included if Hamels goes to Los Angeles.

Even so, Heyman added that the Dodgers are still well in the mix for Hamels and are one of the favorites alongside the Rangers, with the Cubs and Red Sox right behind them.

Where could he go?
ESPN's Jayson Stark also reported the Rangers and Dodgers are the likely favorites to land Hamels, citing the remaining years on the left-hander's contract as an attractive option for the two clubs. 

"The guaranteed portion of his contract runs through only his age-34 season -- whereas a group of free agents in or approaching their 30s, such as David Price, Johnny Cueto and Zack Greinke (assuming he opts out), will be looking for deals that take them into their late 30s," Stark wrote Monday morning.

While trade talks are as hot as ever following Hamels' recent performance in Chicago, Stark added that it would be a surprise if a deal for the ace doesn't come down to the deadline.

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