Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Just a few days after hearing that the Padres have a real interest in Cole Hamels — and hearing since that the Rangers have been asking about him — Jim Salisbury reported that Hamels will most likely start the season in a Phillies uniform.

Salisbury says the Phillies are currently in a “staredown” with a few clubs (Padres, Red Sox, Rangers, Cardinals), but it looks like none of those clubs are ready to bite on Hamels by dishing some top prospects just yet. Matt Lombardo has more on who the Rangers would (possibly) part with, but Salisbury’s report pushes the potential trade back to the “warmer months.”

The Phillies might be — in general — over the hill and out of the race, but at least we might get one more Hamels-pitched opener before it’s all gone forever.