Cole Hamels Trade Rumors 2012: Amaro Says Philadelphia Phillies Want To Keep Hamels Long-Term

Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. declined to comment Monday on the latest Cole Hamels rumors, neither confirming nor denying that there's any truth to Philadelphia gauging other teams' interest in Hamels on the trading block.

Via Yardbarker:

"I do not ever discuss the information that is out there, nor those rumors or speculations.

"This is the time of year where things will be out there. It is the nature of our sport and a product of the time of year."

Amaro Jr. added that the Phillies still hope to keep Hamels for a long time.

"Our goal is the same as it has been from the beginning," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Monday. "To sign him and keep him long-term in a Phillies uniform."

For more coverage of the Philadelphia Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

Cole Hamels Trade Rumors: Philadelphia Phillies Put Pitcher On Trade Block, According To Report

The Philadelphia Phillies have reportedly put starting left-handed pitcher Cole Hamels on the trade block and have made calls trying to determine interest in a trade (via CBS Sports).

Hamels will be a free agent after the season and contract talks with the lefty have not advanced, according to reports. The Phillies are believed to have proposed a five-year deal to Hamels in a similar price range to Jered Weaver's $85 million deal with the Angels. Hamels is rumored to want a longer deal.

Hamels, 28, has been a bright spot for the Phillies this season, going 10-4 with a 3.08 ERA. Hamels leads the Phillies in wins, ERA and strikeouts (111). Philadelphia has been decimated by injuries and are currently 36-45 after dropping three games to the Marlins and five in a row overall.

For more on the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

Roy Halladay Injury Update: Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Hopes For Return Following All-Star Break

Philadelphia Phillies injured starting pitcher Roy Halladay is hoping for a quick return after the MLB All-Star break.

Halladay said, "I'd like to be back soon after that as I can. This whole process we've been going day to day, so there's not really like a [target date]. Everything has gone really good." (via Philly.com)

On Friday, he threw a 33-pitch bullpen session. His next session is scheduled for the upcoming week when the Phillies play the Mets in New York. Whether or not Halladay will pitch a rehab assignment during the All-Star break has not been determined.

Halladay has been sidelined with a latissimus dorsi strain since May 27 during his start against the Cardinals. He was 4-5 with a 3.98 ERA this season before the injury.

For more on the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

Phillies Vs. Marlins Final Score: Philadelphia Falls, 5-2

The Philadelphia Phillies were defeated by the Miami Marlins, 5-2, on Sunday at Marlins Park. The Phillies lost all three games of the three-game set.

Juan Pierre scored both runs for the Phillies on Sunday. In the first inning he scored when Hunter Pence grounded into a fielder's choice. In the sixth inning he scored when Ricky Nolasco threw a wild pitch. The Marlins sandwiched all the runs they would need in between those innings when they scored two runs in the second inning and one in the third. Omar Infante and John Buck hit RBI doubles in the second inning and Giancarlo Stanton hit a solo home run in the third inning. Hanley Ramirez hit a two run shot in the eighth inning to push the lead to 5-2.

Joe Blanton took the hill for the Phillies and went six innings. He gave up six hits, two walks and three earned runs while striking out seven. The other two runs were given up by Antonio Bastardo on a home run in the eighth inning. Ricky Nolasco was the starter for the Marlins. In seven innings of work, he gave up five hits and two earned runs while striking out six batters. Heath Bell got the save for the Marlins for pitching a scoreless ninth.

The Phillies (36-45) will start their next series on July 3 against the New York Mets (43-36) at Citi Field.

For more on the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

Phillies Vs. Marlins Preview: Joe Blanton Looks To Salvage 3-Game Set In Miami

After losing two straight 3-2 contests, the Philadelphia Phillies will try to avoid a three-game sweep Sunday at the Miami Marlins (1:05 p.m. ET on PHL 17). Philly's veteran Joe Blanton (7-6) will oppose MIA's Ricky Nolasco (6-6) in a showdown which features the two bottom feeders in the NL East Division.

Blanton will look to try and snap a four-game losing streak for the Phils' as he tries to build off his previous start against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who managed to compile just two earned runs on seven hits and two walks in seven innings.

Meanwhile, Nolasco is trying to find some consistency in a rocky start to the season. Nolasco has not won a game since June 2.

For more on the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

Phillies-Marlins Final Score: Marlins 3, Phillies 2

For the second game in a row, the Philadelphia Phillies fell to the Miami Marlins in Florida, this time by the score of 3-2.

Philadelphia got a good start out of Cole Hamels, who pitched seven innings and only gave up three earned runs. Hamels scattered seven hits and three walks in a losing effort.

It just wasn't good enough against Mark Buehrle, who also went seven innings deep and allowed two runs in the process. Buehrle baffled Philadelphia throughout the afternoon, striking out seven.

Hunter Pence had a terrific game for the Phillies, collecting three hits including a solo home run in the 7th. Carlos Ruiz also added two hits and a run scored.

Giancarlo Stanton (18) got the scoring started with a solo blast off of Hamels in the first, part of his two RBI affair. Jose Reyes also ignited the Marlins offense with two hits to bump his average up to .271.

The Phillies will look to avoid the sweep Sunday with Joe Blanton on the hill against Ricky Nolasco.

For more on the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

Phillies Vs. Marlins Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule, Probable Pitchers

The Philadelphia Phillies look to snap a three-game skid on Saturday afternoon when they resume their three-game series with the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. (Game Time: 4:10 p.m. ET, TV Schedule: CSN Philly)

The Phillies dropped the series opener on Friday night, 6-2, when Cliff Lee was roughed up for 10 hits and six runs over 4.2 innings.

The Marlins have beaten the Phillies three straight times, and have handed Saturday's starter Cole Hamels two of his three defeats this season.

Hamels will be looking to discharge his Marlins demons while continuing his recent success. The lefty has allowed two runs while striking out 14 batters over his last 15 innings.

The Marlins will counter with Mark Buehrle, who has never pitched against Philadelphia.

Stick with this StoryStream for news, scores and more from the Phillies series against the Marlins. For full time Philly news and analysis, head over to The Good Phight.

Phillies Vs. Marlins Final Score: Cliff Lee Remains Winless As Miami Defeats Philadelphia 6-2

Cliff Lee continued to struggle and was denied again in his quest for his first win as the Philadelphia Phillies lost to the Miami Marlins by a score of 6-2 Friday night. Lee threw 96 pitches in 4.2 innings and gave up 10 hits and six runs.

Lee's performance was rocky from the beginning, as he gave up a leadoff double to Jose Reyes and walked Giancarlo Stanton in the first, then giving up two RBI on a Logan Morrison groundout. It didn't get any easier from there. Omar Infante, John Buck each picked up an RBI, Justin Ruggiano got two, and Stanton finished the night with three. Philadelphia's bullpen performed well, giving up only one hit in relief, but the damage had been done.

Philadelphia's offense was quiet for most of the game, with Hunter Pence responsible for the team's only runs. He hit a solo home run to open the fourth inning, and hit an RBI single in the ninth. The Phillies were 1-6 with runners in scoring position and left five on base.

Stick with this StoryStream for news, scores and more from the Phillies series against the Marlins. For full time Philly news and analysis, head over to The Good Phight.

Phillies Vs. Marlins: Friday Game Time, TV Schedule And Probable Starters

Will Cliff Lee be able to finally win a game this season? He will attempt it again on Friday against the Miami Marlins.