WEDNESDAY: The Phillies are sending signals that they're planning to make an initial offer for about $130MM over six years, Heyman reports. They appear to have had some conversations with Hamels in recent days.

MONDAY: It appears that the Phillies are planning to offer Cole Hamels a contract extension worth at least $120MM, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. Though the Phillies hope to keep Hamels, people within the organization aren’t optimistic their forthcoming offer will convince the left-hander to sign a deal just a few months away from free agency.

Philadelphia left-hander Cliff Lee is in the second year of a five-year, $120MM contract that will likely come up in contract talks between the Phillies and agent John Boggs. Some rival officials have suggested the Phillies might have to match Johan Santana’s six-year, $137.5MM contract to lock Hamels up, however. Meanwhile, MLB agents have suggested that Hamels could earn upwards of $150MM as a free agent.

More than 57% of 11,500 MLBTR readers say they don't expect the sides to reach a deal. Plenty of teams have interest in discussing trade options if the Phillies can't sign Hamels long-term.