The next couple of weeks will determine the future of two franchises in Philadelphia: the Philadelphia Phillies and the Philadelphia Flyers. The Phillies and the Flyers both have long-term contracts pending with players who will be the focal point of each team for years to come. The Phillies are working to reach a deal with Cole Hamels before the All-Star pitcher has the chance to test the market in free agency while the Flyers have signed top defenseman Shea Weber to an offer sheet worth over $100 million.
Over the past few days, the Phillies have reportedly offered Hamels multiple contracts in the ranges of 5-6 years and $120-$130 million. Hamels is the youngest of the three aces (Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay being the other two) at the top of the Phillies’ rotation and he is the only player on the team who has won a World Series MVP. Should he reach free agency, Hamels is expected to get big time offers from many teams including the Dodgers and Yankees.
Coming out of the All-Star break, the Phillies were in an interesting position. At the break, the team was supposed to be near the top of the National League, but instead is at the bottom of the division with a very slim chance of making the playoffs. The team may decide to sell on the season and trade Hamels in exchange for prospects with the hope of re-signing him in the off-season. However, the recent push of the front office shows a strong desire to keep Hamels in Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, the Flyers made their third offer of over $100 million dollars to a top free agent when the team agreed to an offer sheet worth $110 million over 14 years with Shea Weber. What does this mean? This means that the Nashville Predators have until July 25th to match the offer made by the Flyers or Shea Weber will officially sign a contract in Philadelphia. The Flyers and Predators could also work out a trade if necessary that would be agreeable for both teams.
The Flyers are in desperate need of a physical, talented defenseman like Shea Weber to replace the injured Chris Pronger. The deal indicates that the Flyers are not confident in the ability of Chris Pronger to return to the ice. Shea Weber has the potential to fill the skates of Pronger, who was the best defenseman on the Flyers and the leader in the locker room during the 2010 run to the Cup Finals. Since the Flyers are already committed to Ilya Bryzgalov for the long haul, and he has not proven to be an elite goaltender yet, the team is attempting to provide further insurance on the back line.
The reality is that either of these players could still end up signing a long-term contract somewhere other than Philadelphia. Negotiations with Hamels could dissolve while the Phillies continue to struggle and Hamels could be traded or decide to sign with another team in the off-season. The Predators could match the Flyers’ deal in order to keep their franchise star in Nashville. The aging Phillies would be left without a young ace and may miss the chance to win another World Series in the next few years while the offensively gifted Flyers would be left relying on the goaltending of Bryzgalov to carry them in the playoffs.
Either way, both players are young stars and could become centerpieces of a championship team in each of their respective sports. Furthermore, both players are fan favorites who will be embraced by whichever city they choose. For Philadelphia in particular, each player could be the key piece that separates the franchises from playoff success and failure in the years to come. While no one knows for certain where both players will end up, it is certainly true that the next couple of weeks will be crucial for the Phillies and the Flyers.