Amaro denies Hamels trade speculation

CHICAGO - The rumored trade of Cole Hamels to somewhere for something has gotten back to Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

In short: It's not happening.

"We have no thoughts of trading Cole Hamels," Amaro said at baseball's general managers meetings yesterday. "I don't know where those rumors are coming from, but that's exactly what they are. Cole Hamels is our pitcher and we're keeping him, and I'm glad to have him."

Amaro envisions Hamels bouncing back from this year's disappointing season and being a top-of-the-rotation twin with Cliff Lee next season.

As for adding Toronto's Roy Halladay in a trade, Amaro predictably shot down speculation that it could happen, even though industry sources say the Phils are keeping tabs on the pitcher's availability and could be a player for his services as what figures to be a long off-season auction unfolds.

Halladay is due to make $15.75 million in 2010. The Phils paid $137 million in salary and bonuses in 2009 and are expected to have a payroll in that neighborhood again in 2010. Halladay might be too expensive, unless a payroll exception were made.

"We already have two top-of-the-rotation guys," Amaro said. "Our payroll is not a bottomless pit. There are limits. If I can't put together a championship-caliber club at $140 million, then that's my fault. I haven't gotten the budget numbers yet. I know we shouldn't expect to be much different than we were last year."

Money was a hot topic in the lobby of the O'Hare Hilton during the meetings yesterday. While some general managers wrestle with payroll restrictions, agent Scott Boras is painting a picture of an industry awash in money thanks to revenues of $6.5 billion.

In talking about the salary arbitration system that some in baseball management detest, Boras invoked Lee's name. The agent mentioned the $9 million that Lee will make next year in a deal that was signed in a year when the pitcher would have been eligible for arbitration. In a free-agent system, Boras said, Lee would be worth "three times" that amount. Lee will be a free agent after the 2010 season. The Phillies may try to keep him off the market and negotiate an extension before then. Lee's agent, Darek Braunecker, may send Boras a thank-you note for that remark.

Amaro was asked about the possibility of negotiating an extension with Lee this winter.

"If we end up negotiating with Lee sometime this winter, you won't know about it," he said.

Amaro's immediate focus is on improving the bullpen, finding a third baseman to take over for Pedro Feliz, and strengthening the bench. Amaro said the team was about to begin negotiating with Chan Ho Park, who will be seeking a multiyear deal after recording a 2.52 ERA in 38 games as a reliever for the Phils last season. Park still hopes to sign with a club that will let him work as a starter, so that could hurt the Phillies' chances. He had a 7.29 ERA in seven starts for the Phils last season.

Amaro said he talked about a trade for a third baseman - Boston could move Mike Lowell, and San Diego might deal Kevin Kouzmanoff - but he still thinks that position will be filled with a free agent. The candidates are many and include Chone Figgins, Adrian Beltre, Mark DeRosa, Miguel Tejada and Placido Polanco. Figgins and Beltre are looking for big paydays, and that could affect the Phils' interest because Amaro said he does not believe that the team would sign a player to a contract similar to the three-year, $31.5 million deal that Raul Ibanez got last winter. Nonetheless, the Phillies did speak with Boras about Beltre.

Teams cannot talk contract specifics - money and length - with free agents until Nov. 20. Amaro said he would have a clearer picture about which free agents are most viable for the Phils after that date. He also said he would like to "pool our resources and go with pitching."

The off-season is still in its infancy. Boras called November "the greeting-card month," adding that deals can be struck all the way to February. So, as Amaro prepares to leave the meetings today, there is plenty of time to get things done.

Notes. Former Phillie Kevin Sefcik, who lives in the Chicago area, stopped by the meetings yesterday to talk with club officials about the possibility of becoming a minor-league manager. Phillies officials reached out to Sefcik. . . . Amaro said that pitcher Jamie Moyer likely will have cartilage in a knee cleaned up. . . . He also said the team was not pursuing free-agent pitcher John Lackey. . . . There was only little talk about instant replay during yesterday's sessions and no talk of increasing its use beyond disputed boundary calls. "I don't believe in expanding it," Amaro said. "It's fine the way it is."