If you thought the Angels were being greedy by pursuing C.J. Wilson, brace yourself. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes that the Phillies are among the teams interested in dealing for A's lefty Gio Gonzalez.
Despite having a historically dominant rotation that features Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels, Philadelphia is among about a dozen teams in the mix for Gonzalez. The thinking, according to Rosenthal, is that acquiring Gonzalez would either give the Phillies a built-in replacement for Hamels when he departs via free agency after the 2012 season, or even allow the Phils to shop Hamels to other clubs this winter.
Hamels would figure to have the same suitors as Gonzalez, and this wouldn't be the first time the Phillies dealt an elite starter to acquire another arm they could control for longer. Two years ago around this time, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. sent Lee to the Mariners and acquired Halladay from the Blue Jays when Lee only had one year left on his contract. Halladay was extended for three seasons, though as it turns out, Lee wound up re-signing in Philly as a free agent on a five-year deal anyway.
Speculation on my part, but the Phillies may not want to have Ryan Howard and three of their starting pitchers making $20MM+ per season, and Hamels' free agent years could approach that neighborhood. Dealing for Gonzalez would allot them another three years of team control on an affordable, upper-tier left-handed starter.
Rosenthal specifically names the Tigers, Diamondbacks, Marlins, and Reds as other suitors for Gonzalez's services and says that he, not Wilson or Mark Buehrle, is the lefty who is in the highest demand at the Winter Meetings.
hmmmm
they could then trade Cole Hamels to the Yankees
There ought to be a law against the Phillies acquiring more pitchers.
This is a pipe dream. No way you basically are trading Hamels for Gio. I would much rather have Hamels
Except Gio won’t command a 100 million dollar contract next winter
That they could probably pay, should they spend wisely this off season and let people like Rollins just go somewhere else.
Have asked this here several days ago.. Who would Philly fans rather have? Hamels or Rollins? Philly can get Alex gonzalez on a 1 year deal more than likely, probably make a deal for another SS or 2 as an emergency plan, they don’t have to sign Rollins by any means. This is Philly looking to get themselves into a bind with another poor value wise deal, much like they did with the Howard contract and they are doing it all by themselves under short term fan pressure, regardless of how bad it will end up in a few years when these contracts will be near the end.
That they could probably pay, should they spend wisely this off season and let people like Rollins just go somewhere else.
Have asked this here several days ago.. Who would Philly fans rather have? Hamels or Rollins? Philly can get Alex gonzalez on a 1 year deal more than likely, probably make a deal for another SS or 2 as an emergency plan, they don’t have to sign Rollins by any means. This is Philly looking to get themselves into a bind with another poor value wise deal, much like they did with the Howard contract and they are doing it all by themselves under short term fan pressure, regardless of how bad it will end up in a few years when these contracts will be near the end.
With all of this interest in Gio, and the lack of free agent depth, Beene should get himself a tidy haul this winter.
They have that corner bat in Domonic Brown. That would be a very nice start, but do they have any pitching left to round out a package? Maybe adding Worley + lower level guy gets it done?
May, Biddle, and Pettibone are high upside pitchers. May will start in AA and will prob. will be a top 100 prospect this year.
He was top 100 last year, he might crack the top 50.
He was top 100 last year, he might crack the top 50.
Well this would be a moot point if, you know, we didn’t trade Gonzalez for FREDDY BLOODY GARCIA. Oh yes, Gavin Floyd was in that trade too. Great work guys!
Simply put, you do not trade Hamels. You resign him, to the 5 year $100 M contract he is going to command. He, Halladay, Lee, and Kershaw are the top four arms in the NL. You don’t give that up…ever.
That was probably Gillik’s worst move as the GM of the Phils.
that’s a funny way of misspelling ‘Lincecum’…. four times.
Hamels is going to get more than $100 million dollars if he hits the market.
Hamels will get far more than 5/100 unless he has a down year next year.
Id this happened the yankees would be by far the favorite to get hamels.
Why? This would have nothing to do with Hamels. Gio is cheap yet, so I can’t see how it would affect him. Hamels should be extended by January if Ruben is smart.
I know what Rosenthal said, but I just can’t see Ruben letting Hamels walk.
Not going to happen (I hope). Hamels is a dominant lefty about to enter the peak of his career. You do not deal cornerstones like that. I’d rather the Phillies eat a chunk of Howard’s contract and trade him than ship out Hamels.
Do they even have any prospects after making some many trades in recent years??
Acquiring Gio and trading away Hamels is actually a great move for the
Phillies. Being that they’re similar pitchers, they’d basically be
giving their #3 slot a drastic pay cut, while getting virtually the same
production. Not to mention that to acquire Gio, they’d have to pay a
hefty price in terms of prospects, trading Hamels would at least bring
back something to their farm. There’s no sense in being greedy and keeping them both at the expense of the few prospects they have left.
I really hope they don’t do this. I don’t trust Amaro to trade away talent anymore after what he got for the Cliff Lee trade. Cole is the better pitcher and home grown so stick with him. Maybe if Amaro didn’t decided that Howard needed to be the second highest paid player in baseball we wouldn’t be in this mess. I really dislike him as a GM.
Never have enough pitching
They’d be making a mistake if they traded Hamels. His best years are now. Gio’s still developing…
He SHOULD be in our rotation anyway, he and Gavin… I think that was the only time Kenny Williams was the GM doing the fleecing.
That’s not to say I don’t want Gio Gonzalez. I do, I’d sell the farm for him. I just think getting rid of Hamels at this point is a mistake unless they get a MONSTER haul back for him.
They are most likely trying to get Gonzalez so they can bring a lefty in to replace the 4th spot in the rotation because Joe Blanton isn’t going to cut it anymore except for in the bullpen with Kendrick,Stutes,Bastardo,Papelbon. So most likely if Gio Gonzalez were to go to Philly he would be put in the 4th spot in a dominant rotation that could potentionally include Halladay (RHP), Lee (LHP), Hamels (LHP), Gonzalez (LHP), and Worley (RHP)
You know what the most absurd thing about this trade, the Phillies could’ve had Gio Gonzalez all along but instead they made that terrible trade of Gavin Floyd and Gio for Freddy Garcia. Bad deal all around since the White Sox got rid of Gio.
quit spending money on closers and aging veterans and just give Hamels a contract.
Of course, the GM that traded for Wells just got fired.
Of course, the GM that traded for Wells just got fired.