SAN DIEGO — Cole Hamels continues to be a pitcher of interest in the marketplace, particularly as an option for teams such as the Cubs, Red Sox or Dodgers who might lose out on Jon Lester. John Boggs, Hamels’ agent, said Hamels has “conflict” because the Phillies are the only team he has known and the lefty likes playing there, but Philadelphia is now in a rebuilding posture.

Hamels does have a partial no-trade list filled with AL teams, including the Red Sox. In 10 career interleague starts in AL stadiums, Hamels is 3-5 with a 5.40 ERA. However, it is possible Hamels would still waive the no-trade clause, particularly if a team were willing to pick up his 2019 option or extend his contract.

Hamels has four years at $96 million left, which includes a $6 million buyout on a $20 million option for 2019.

And the Braves continue to listen on their slugger, Justin Upton, with the expectation by many in the game they will trade the outfielder.

However, the Braves still had not heard a package that would make them give up Upton. The Braves are valuing Upton at a higher level than they did Jason Heyward, who in conjunction with reliever Jordan Walden got Shelby Miller and pitching prospect Tyrell Jenkins from the Cardinals.

Atlanta is still looking to bulk up its pitching further and find a second baseman.

The Indians, Padres, Rangers and Royals remain strong pursuers of Upton.

Indians pick off power from A’s tear-down

The Indians, prioritizing power, obtained Brandon Moss from the Athletics on Monday.

Cleveland sent second base prospect Joe Wendle to Oakland in the deal. The A’s have also traded Josh Donaldson, are open to moving Scott Kazmir and Jeff Samardzija, and will lose Jon Lester, Luke Gregerson and Jed Lowrie to free agency.

This fits general manager Billy Beane’s style – you go all in one way or the other. During last season, the A’s went for it by obtaining Lester, Samardzija and Jason Hammel. But Beane surveyed the situation after the season – knew what he was losing in free agency and what others in the AL West were likely to do to bulk up – and has decided to go into young/cost-effective gathering mode to build for a better day.

The Indians believe they have a contender for 2015 and have now added a slugger. In three seasons with Oakland, Moss has hit 76 homers, including 25 last year.

No love for Ichiro

What if you could find someone who hit .284 last season, limits strikeouts in an age of high whiffs, can still defend well playing all three outfield spots and runs the bases at a high level? This is what Boggs is trying to get teams to see with another of his clients, Ichiro Suzuki, not that he is now 41.

It has been a losing battle. Boggs, to date, has not gotten a toehold with any club and has been told by a few they will circle back later in the offseason if their initial options are not fulfilled. For now, teams are favoring outfielders that can hit for power, get on base at a higher level and/or are younger.

“It is still early in the process for him,” Boggs said. “I am telling teams to concentrate on his ability, not his age. I am trying to make sure teams know they can get a productive, motivated future Hall of Famer, and that is something teams should want.”

Suzuki has let it be known he wants to play regularly, but the best that might be available to him is to be a fourth outfielder. In the National League, perhaps, his ability to field, run and make contact would make him a fourth-outfield fit.

More from behind the Gregorius trade

Jim Leyland, now a special advisor to Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski, watched Shane Greene in person twice and on TV twice and came away as a fan who advised his boss to obtain the righty from the Yankees as part of the trade that sent Didi Gregorius to New York.

“I really like Greene,” Leyland said. “He is a good fit for us. He is a major league guy who is getting better who is at a perfect age (26). I really like how aggressive he is with his sinker. He has a slider and a cutter. He has pitches that move both ways to a batter and batters always tell me that makes the toughest pitcher.”

An NL scout who saw a lot of Gregorius said one way he likes to judge players is how they behave if they get sent back down to the minors after being in the majors. Gregorius was not only sent to Triple-A to begin the season – as Chris Owings won Arizona’s shortstop job – but was moved from short to second so Nick Ahmed could play short.

The scout said, “For me (Gregorius) had a good attitude, good enthusiasm every day. He seemed to be a guy doing his work and liking to play.”

Money tight for Blue Jays

With the signing of Russell Martin and the trading for Josh Donaldson, the Blue Jays are seen as a go-for-it-organization. Toronto has been linked with several players, including Robertson. However, Blue Jay GM Alex Anthopoulos told me the club has no current offers out.

In addition, I have been told money is tight for Toronto. That would mean the Blue Jays might have to cut from what was a club record $137 million payroll last season. The Jays have roughly $103 million committed in payroll right now for 2015 and project to about $14 million more via arbitration. That would still leave about $20 million if the Jays had a payroll similar to last year, which would give them maneuverability to bolster their relief corps with Robertson and find a more economic second baseman.