The Yankees will get a first-hand look at Cole Hamels later today when the Phillies’ ace takes the hill for the series finale between the two clubs at Yankee Stadium, and Newsday’s David Lennon writes that they’ll be paying close attention to his performance, as the Yankees haven’t ruled out a pursuit of Hamels on the trade market.
The cost to acquire Hamels, both financially and prospect-wise, would be significant, but Lennon hears that such obstacles don’t necessarily preclude interest on the Yankees’ behalf. The Yankees have a full rotation at the moment, with Ivan Nova coming off the disabled list to join Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, CC Sabathia, Nathan Eovaldi and Adam Warren. Of course, there are persistent injury concerns with both Tanaka and Pineda, and the team will likely want to monitor the workloads of both Nova (one year removed from Tommy John) and Warren, who has thrown a combined 155 2/3 innings over the past two seasons.
Obviously, this report is preliminary in nature, so it’s best not to get too carried away with speculation, but one would imagine that the Phillies would express interest in the list of usual suspects that sit atop the Yankees’ prospect rankings. Right-hander Luis Severino, right fielder Aaron Judge, first baseman Greg Bird and shortstop Jorge Mateo are among the most highly regarded Yankees prospects. Further lending some insight into the possibilities, Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News wrote this morning that the Phillies’ preference seems to be to add offensive prospects, preferably ones that are reasonably close to the Majors.
Hamels is guaranteed $86.2MM through the guaranteed portion of his contract, which ends in the 2018 season. He’ll have $12.66MM remaining on this year’s $22.5MM salary following tonight’s start, plus $22.5MM annually from 2016-18. He has a club/vesting option for the 2019 season that is valued at $20MM and comes with a $6MM buyout. While there’s been speculation that Hamels would want that option guaranteed to approve a deal to a club on his no-trade list, that’s not an issue for the Yankees, because they are one of two American League clubs that are not on Hamels’ no-trade list. (The Rangers, who have also been connected to Hamels in the past 24 hours, are also pre-approved by the left-hander.)
The Yankees’ interest in Hamels dates back to the offseason, where one report even indicated that they’d come the closest to acquiring Hamels. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean that talks between New York and Philadelphia reached advanced stages. It doesn’t appear that the Phillies came all that close to trading Hamels in general this past winter. But, by waiting until July, Amaro may have upped his leverage, as his ace figures to be far more coveted over the next five weeks than he was at the tail end of the offseason.
If they want to take on Hamel’s money, they could move CC out of the rotation. Third straight year he’s been awful.
Hamels will cost you a lot less than the good free agent pitchers this winter!
Stlll will cost $100 million, At least two top prospects, at least two, maybe three other decent ones, and hes older then Price, Cueto, and Zimmerman.
Actually, Hamels will only cost you that much if you guarantee his 2019 option, which I believe the Yankees don’t have to do, as they’re not on his NTC.
He’s owed less than $90MM for the duration of his deal, and he’s 1.5 years older than Price and Cueto, and around 2 years older than Zimmerman.
However, his contract is also going to expire probably at least two years sooner than all of their next deals, so…
Good point! So I guess you just flip a coin and hope you pick the right guy unless you want to win this year!
It’s easier for the Yankees to spend money than give up prospects, honestly.
Yes that’s true but they aren’t the richest owner1s
CC Sabathia thanks the Yankees for that policy
Amaro Jr: We will give you Hamels for your most valuable player, straight up.
Cashman: His name is Stephen Drew. I outbid many minor league deals w/ST invites every year just for his services. We often pay him 10x more than anyone else offers.
Amaro Jr: SOLD
As a Sox fan I might prefer Hamels on the Yanks to Severino over the long-term. Mateo and Bird don’t really seem all that interesting to me…Judge looks like he’ll be pretty good but Severino looks like a potential, legit ace. Hopefully the Phils are smart enough to demand him in lieu of their preference for bats.
Done deal, you get Severino, Judge, Mitchell, and Refsnyder.
With Utley dowm, the great Refsnyder could be a valuable piece. .
Refsnyder is not going to be a big piece in a trade for Hamels. Probably the 4th player.
Cashman has never traded for a top of the rotation arm at the deadline.. He has always made shrewd moves in season.. Something similar to the Prado/O’Brien and McCarthy/Nuno moves of last year is all Yankees fans can expect.. With Nova coming back the Yankees have depth in case of an injury and chances are that Severino will be ready for a call up later on.. He will probably chase someone like Kazmir and I hope he goes after a decent middle infielder..
Braves could deal Julio Teheran and Jonny Gomes for Luis Severino or Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez.
Why would that deal make sense for Atlanta?
Braves won’t trade Teheran.
Hart stole a lot of players last off season, I think everyone is done trading with him!
Not according to Arizona…
One thing about Cashman is that he is not afraid to make a move. I can see them getting Hamels for Severino, Judge, Sanchez, and Mitchel.
@slider32, I do in fact think that is a very fair trade, but I don’t see the Yankees doing it. I think they want to hold at least 1 of Severino or Judge. Perhaps in your trade propsal, they take out one of those 2, and add in Bird or Mateo and add in a couple of other names
Other note, if the Yankees bullpen starts to become an issue, I have a very sad feeling they may ask for Papelbon.
i think the bullpen will be fine over the entire season so i hope not.
CC is done as a starter; his post-game interview about still having stuff but just needs to pitch better left me shaking my head. i know there’s not much he could say but he’s not a prospect/draft pick but a guy making ace $$… it’s been 3yrs since he pitched well, how long does he need?
It’s obvious he is only in the rotation because of that contract. The Giants moved the $20 mil struggling Tim Lincecum to the pen, so I don’t see why the Yankees can’t do it with Sabathia.
right…then he can be the long inning reflief or spot starter. But keeping him in the rotation is taking the team out of it every time he starts.
Sounds like they are expressing interest to drive up the price for other teams.I don’t think any team has ruled out acquiring Cole Hamels.
step up, Yankees and save the Rangers from another bad contract, for them……….NOT every team, but for the Rangers.
So you want the Rangers to say wait until next year!
Honest question: What is it that people like about Greg Bird? His stat lines show that he can take a walk but not a whole lot else. What am I missing?
Stay away from this deal, Yankees. Nothing against Hamels, but the team needs to be younger, faster, more athletic. Trading prospects for age/$ is the wrong wat to go.