Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Yesterday, we detailed a couple of the reasons why it may be so hard to find a trading partner for Ryan Howard. Ruben Amaro should have no such problem with Cole Hamels. Yet, Hamels is still here. Rumors have swirled around the Red Sox, Cubs and Cardinals (among others) this offseason so far, and now it seems like it’s the Padres’ turn.

According to Jon Heyman, the Padres are interested in possibly, potentially, maybe making a deal for Hamels. How tangential is all of this? “One executive with another team suggested the Padres may be more likely than others to land Hamels, based on their decent prospect list and obvious resolve to contend in 2015.” That’s where we are now. But it’s not all new information. This fun meme from last year’s trade deadline has resurfaced:

Yet another rival exec suggested the Phillies are looking for a “huge” package in return for Hamels, to the point where that exec questioned whether Philly is committed to trading Hamels.

The report continues, saying that outfielder Hunter Renfroe, pitcher Matt Wisler and catcher Austin Hedges — San Diego’s top three prospects — would likely be the Phillies’ targets.

Common sense dictates that the longer Hamels stays on the Phillies roster, the smaller his return will be, but if the Padres (or Cubs or Red Sox or Cardinals) decide they need to have him, Ruben may actually find himself in an impossible to screw-up position which he will surely screw up, and don’t call him Shirley.