Pap: Clubhouse won't like it if Hamels is traded

KANSAS CITY – The possibility of Cole Hamels being traded later this month was a hot topic at All-Star festivities on Monday.

 

Hamels answered waves of reporters’ questions on the subject.

 

Teammate Jonathan Papelbon answered one question about it – and the Phillies' closer gave a stern response.

 

Papelbon was asked how the Phillies’ clubhouse would react if Hamels was traded.

 

“I don’t know,” he said, at first pondering the question. “That’s hard to say. I definitely don’t think we should [trade him]. I don’t think he’s trying to jump ship by any means.

 

“I don’t necessarily know if our clubhouse would take that too well. But, also, at the same time, everyone knows it’s a business. Sometimes things don’t go the way you think they should go because you don’t run the business; you work for the business. That’s it, man.”

 

Papelbon acknowledged that the Phillies, last place in the NL East at 37-50, are in a “bad situation,” but he hopes management won’t throw in the towel and trade Hamels.

 

“If we play the opposite way we played in the first half, we’re in the hunt,” Papelbon said.