TRADE BLOCKS

Why some teams handcuff themselves by giving players "trade blocks" in their contracts is one of those annoying realities of baseball. It is a player perk that agents have been pushing for, even in the richest of contract deals. In normal business, an employee has some say in where he or she works if there is a company consolidation, merger or relocation. Employees can leave their companies and find new jobs to their liking in any city they choose. So in that sense, star baseball players with no trade clauses are similar to other parts of the American employment landscape.

If it is not the money, then it should be about winning. But some players have home life quality of life issues to think about, too. That may be the hidden driving force on why more and more players are demanding trade blocks.

Phillies ace pitcher Cole Hamels is adamant about one thing: he will not be suiting up for the Houston Astros. According to KHOU, the left-hander's contract accords him up to 20 teams that he can refuse to be traded to, and the Astros are at the top of the list despite leading their division and boasting an outstanding pitching staff.

Hamels has turned out a decent season for the Phillies so far, sitting on a 5-5 record with a 3.55 FIP and 103 strikeouts through 94 1/3 innings. His 2.96 ERA is the 11th best among National League starters, and though his efforts have yielded a team-best 1.7 fWAR, the Phillies can better utilize him as a trade chip during the weeks leading up to the trade deadline.

Hamels may not have an adversity to the State of Texas, because it is reported that talks with the Rangers have been made about a trade. The Rangers and the Yankees are in the mix because both of whom could use an upgrade to their pitching staffs as they approach the All-Star break. Hamels is set to earn $70.5 million between 2016 and 2018, and while his price tag isn't holding big money teams like the Rangers or Yankees from swinging a deal, the cost in return players and prospects may be the key.

But it hurts a GM that he can leverage a star player on the market if the player's contract effectively eliminates two-thirds of the potential trade partners. The Yanks and Rangers know this, too. If the Phillies are looking for a big haul (like a team's #1 and #2 prospects, a major league ready pitcher and some additional bullpen help) the Astros have a deeper farm system than the Yankees.

There will be soon daily speculation stories about Hamels. In the end, he may not even be moved by the Phils.