Cole Hamels Rumors

Odds and Ends: Kazmir, Thomas, Sweeney

We'll kick it off with a few links today and add more bullets periodically. Cole Hamels feels that he handled his contract renewal last year immaturely. Over at The Hardball Times, Geoff Young looks at the best compensation picks of the 20th century. Geoff Blum's '09 option vests with one more plate appearance. Bronson Arroyo has a plan to make the Reds competitive. Matthew Cerrone explains Carlos Delgado's '09 option. Jeff Passan on the Cardinals' brilliant signing of Ryan Ludwick. Baseball Prospectus profiles #26-50 on their list of players to build a team around. Twins reliever Brian Bass accepted a...   Continue Reading

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Stark's Latest: Young Players, Giles, DeJesus

Jayson Stark's latest Rumblings and Grumblings column is chock full of information. Stark rattles off Dan Uggla, Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, B.J. Upton, Justin Upton, Russell Martin, Zack Greinke, Prince Fielder, Felix Hernandez, Jeff Francoeur, Jonathan Papelbon, Kevin Youkilis, and Dustin Pedroia as youngsters who do not have long-term deals in the works. With Uggla and Greinke, the opposition seems more on the team's side. With Hamels and Howard neither side wants a long-term deal. With the rest, the player is resisting. The Padres' top trading chip is probably Brian Giles, though a deal would further deplete a weak offense....   Continue Reading

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Phils Not Ready To Talk Extension With Hamels

Phillies GM Pat Gillick isn't talking about a contract extension with ace pitcher Cole Hamels at present. It seems that he first wants to see more healthy work from Hamels; Gillick expects to talk to him "at some point." Things could change, as this is Gillick's last season as the team's GM. Hamels called the Phillies' $500K renewal a "low blow" back in March. Jayson Stark noted in April that Hamels' agent, John Boggs, isn't one to hand out club options for free agent years. Hamels won't be arbitration-eligible until the 2010 season. Scott Kazmir may have raised the bar...   Continue Reading

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Stark's Latest: Stanton, Hamels

ESPN's Jayson Stark has a new Rumblings and Grumblings column up. The Rays may have a pitching surplus when Scott Kazmir and Matt Garza return in May. Teams will probably be eyeing Edwin Jackson, Jason Hammel, and Andy Sonnanstine - not that the Rays are anxious to give them up. Jackson seems least likely to go. If I had to pick a team deficiency perhaps it would be their middle infielders. The Phillies have "mild interest" in Mike Stanton, who would like to play for them. The Phils already inked Steve Kline to a minor league deal though. The Braves...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Rivera, Hamels, Sherrill

Here's today's gathering of links. John Shea examines the Giants' roster crunch, which would be greatly relieved by trading Dave Roberts and Steve Kline. Adam Rubin implies that the Angels want too much from the Mets for Juan Rivera - Jon Niese or Bobby Parnell. A deal seems unlikely. Cole Hamels, accused by a heckler of being a cross between Casey Fossum and Shawn Camp. BURNED! Buster Olney is hearing from other teams that the Orioles may shop 30 year-old newly anointed closer George Sherrill this summer. Joe Christensen believes that we'll learn about Joe Nathan's future with the Twins...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Thames, Sosa, Inge, Crisp

Here's today's link roundup. MetsBlog passes along a Jon Heyman WFAN appearance tidbit. The SI.com writer said the Mets and Tigers are discussing a Marcus Thames for Jorge Sosa swap. Thames definitely fits the Mets' needs, though Sosa seems a little light for him. I did a fantasy baseball mailbag for Hardball Times. Brandon Inge tries to explain his comments about catching. John Smoltz has advice for Cole Hamels. Nice to see a popular player legitimately spending time to sign fan mail. Buster Olney says the Red Sox and A's are still discussing Coco Crisp. Olney also notes that "talent...   Continue Reading

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Papelbon, Fielder, Hamels

Last year, in his final year prior to arbitration eligibility, Ryan Howard was renewed for $900K. This was about twice what the Phillies were required to pay Howard, but significantly less than the reigning MVP thought he deserved. Of course, this year that number has been used as a measuring stick by several young stars that have yet to reach arbitration and are subject to automatic renewals from their clubs. It seems that this year, more than years past, players are voicing their displeasure about the automatic renewals. Prince Fielder is displeased at being renewed for $670K, or about 50%...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Lowry, Mantei, Inge

Link time! The White Sox had a scout watching Noah Lowry's disaster yesterday. Maybe that affected him. Todd Zolecki says Ruben Amaro Jr. is the frontrunner for the Phillies' GM job next year, with Mike Arbuckle the other main candidate. Meanwhile, Bob Ford thinks the Phils should've paid $200K for Cole Hamels' happiness. Looks like Matt Mantei's comeback attempt may come to an end. Despite Jim Leyland's comments, you have to think Dave Dombrowski will troll the market for relievers. Leyland also talked about how he's not going to force Brandon Inge to catch. Jeff Sackmann discusses some clubs that...   Continue Reading

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Hamels Not Jazzed With $500K

Players seem to be getting disgruntled earlier and earlier these days. The Phillies renewed Cole Hamels' contract at $500K, and he called it a "low blow." Seems that the perceived slight will stick in Hamels' craw and make future dealings more difficult. Jim Salisbury does not agree that Hamels has been disrespected. Hamels has one more year of slumming it under a million bucks before he'll shoot up to at least the $4-5MM range. While Hamels isn't entitled to more than the $500K he received, some might say the Phils are being penny-wise and pound-foolish. But would giving Hamels a...   Continue Reading

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Phils Covet Rios

Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi was pretty clear on his intentions: "we're not trading Rios." But what else is he going to say? Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail has a source that says despite that declaration, Pat Gillick still wants him for the Phillies. Blair says the Jays won't trade Rios unless they're getting Brett Myers or Cole Hamels in return. We'll label that as educated speculation on Blair's part. Such a trade would make about as much sense as using Myers as closer. The much talked-about scenario involves the Phils somehow wresting Rios from the Jays without..   Continue Reading

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