LOS ANGELES -- The Phillies have traded Jim Thome to the Orioles and Chad Qualls to the Yankees, and reportedly are gauging interest in Cole Hamels. Yet Terry Collins is not writing off Philadelphia, which visits Citi Field for a three-game series beginning Tuesday, just yet.

"I don't know what their thought process is," Collins said about the seeming intent to dismantle. "I know Ryan Howard is starting his rehab. They've got Chase [Utley] back. That lineup is going to get better. When Doc [Roy Halladay] gets back in there, they're going to be a force coming up."

Would Collins still say that if Hamels were eventually traded in his walk year?

"It might be a little different," the manager acknowledged.

Still, Collins insisted the 36-45 Phillies are not dead yet.

"Absolutely not," Collins emphatically said. "Not even close."