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Phillies GM: Recent success of top trade chips 'good for us on all fronts'

Brad Mills / USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

For the first time in a long time, things are going alright for Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

All four of his major trade assets, after all, have enjoyed considerable success either at the plate or on the mound of late, bolstering his leverage in trade discussions as he looks to unload his veteran talent and rebuild his roster.

Cole Hamels, his most prized trade chip, owns a 1.53 ERA with a 5.8 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his last four starts. Jonathan Papelbon, meanwhile, has converted all 11 of his save opportunities this season while posting his best strikeout rate since 2012.

Ryan Howard, the 35-year-old set to earn about $50 million through 2017, is hitting .419 with four homers and five doubles over his last 11 games. Even Chase Utley, who was hitting .099 on May 8, boasts a 1.121 OPS in his previous nine contests.

All of this bodes well for Amaro.

"I've had dialogue on a variety of things over the last several weeks and that will continue," Amaro told Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly on Monday. "There's been dialogue on all these guys. But nothing is imminent.

"These guys having success is good for us on all fronts, whether they stick with us and continue to be part of what we're trying to do moving forward or whether we utilize those assets to improve our club. Them doing well can only help our club."

During the offseason, Amaro began the rebuilding process in earnest by trading Jimmy Rollins to the Los Angeles Dodgers before shipping Marlon Byrd to the Cincinnati Reds.

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