Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels has been the subject of trade rumors since spring training, and despite some recent struggles he is still arguably the team’s top trade chip as the trade deadline approaches. Even after allowing 14 runs over his last two starts (6.1 innings), Hamels has a 3.91 ERA with good peripherals (9.3 K/9, 2.8 BB/9) over 19 starts this season.

Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin suggested a couple weeks ago that trade rumors are affecting Hamels’ performance, but it seems a foregone conclusion that he will be elsewhere by the end of the month. On that note, recent offerings from Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.com and Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe suggest the Los Angeles Dodgers may still have interest in the left-hander.

Cafardo went a bit further, speculating that the Dodgers could consider trading outfielder Yasiel Puig to Philadelphia for Hamels. There has been some indications that Puig is not well-liked by his teammates in Los Angeles, and he has posted disappointing numbers so far this season (.266/.347/.418 slash-line, four home runs and 18 RBI through Monday) as injuries have limited him to 47 games.

With three more guaranteed years at $23.5 million per and an option for 2019 that could be worth either $20 or $24 million, the Dodgers are one of the only teams that would seem to be able to take on Hamels’ contract. Shedding at least the majority of that remaining money would be great for the Phillies, no matter where they trade Hamels, but the idea of adding someone with Puig’s talent level has to make a potential deal with the Dodgers very appealing.

Puig will not even turn 25 until December, and he is locked in contractually through 2018 at very reasonable base salaries ($5.5 million in 2016, $6.5 million in 2017 and $7.5 million in 2018). So as the Phillies try to move on from a core group of veterans that will not be part of the future, Puig can absolutely be part of the team’s rebuilding process.

Apart from the financial aspect attached to Hamels, getting rid of his personality would be good for Philadelphia if he has made it clear to management he wants out. Puig may come with his own set of issues that have to be worked out, but the Phillies need to take the opportunity to add a budding star if at all possible.

Brad Berreman is a Senior Writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter.