CHICAGO - The moment Pat Gillick and Ruben Amaro Jr. opted against an offseason trade of Cole Hamels, this coming week was all but sealed as the most important of the Phillies' 2015 season.
Now it's here.
Cole Hamels' future with his longtime team hangs in the balance, as the front office triumvirate of team president Gillick, general manager Amaro, and incoming president Andy MacPhail weigh a potentially franchise-altering decision. Closer Jonathan Papelbon and outfielder Ben Revere are potential trade chips, too, but only Hamels could bring back a package considerable enough to truly expedite the rebuilding of the Phillies.