A WEEK FROM today the Phillies will alter the shape of their franchise, move their rebuild into the highest of high gears and shake the very foundation of Citizens Bank Park when they ship Cole Hamels to a contending team prior to the trade deadline.
Or they'll hold onto Hamels, and revisit the market this winter.
Which is the smarter play? Which of those options gets the front office to the finish line first, with "finish line" meaning "fielding a perennial contending team"?
With all of the posturing in the weeks leading up to next Friday, it's difficult to tell.