Phillies must be ‘wowed’ in order to agree to Cole Hamels trade

Cole Hamels can’t veto a trade to the Dodgers, but the Philadelphia Phillies would have to be “wowed” to move the three-time All-Star pitcher, Phillies Manager Ryne Sandberg said Tuesday.

“We’d have to be wowed to give up a player like Cole Hamels, which would be a wow that would help us with the process and go in the direction we want to go,” Sandberg said.

Hamels has a provision in his contract that would allow him to block deals to 20 of the 29 other teams. The Dodgers aren’t on that list, according to a person familiar with the details of Hamels’ contract.

Sandberg said General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has spoken to Hamels about his situation.

“He’s also been told that he’s a Philadelphia Phillie,” Sandberg said. “If that would change, then he would be told that that was changed. But for the most part, he was on board with the scenario and the situation that he’s in.”