Rumors connecting the Rangers to Phillies ace Cole Hamels have been circulating for months, dating back to Yu Darvish’s Tommy John surgery. However, a club source tells MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan that such an acquisition is improbable. “If we were going to do that trade, we would have already done it by now,” said Sullivan’s source. There’s currently “no traction” between the two clubs, Sullivan hears.
Similarly, when asked about the team’s approach to buying or selling at this year’s deadline, GM Jon Daniels told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Jeff Wilson: “…I don’t think you’re going to see us on either extreme end. My mind-set is always wanting to add to the club and always wanting to win, but you’ve got to pay attention to the realities of the standings.”
The Rangers, according to Sullivan, dislike Hamels’ contract as well as the asking price in terms of prospects. Previous reports linking the two sides had noted that Philadelphia covets catching prospect Jorge Alfaro and outfield prospect Nomar Mazara, though Mazara’s stock, in particular, has risen in 2015. The 20-year-old is slashing .285/.361/.446 with 10 homers at Double-A in 2015, despite being quite young for the level. That strong play landed him 34th on Baseball America’s midseason Top 50 prospects list and as high as sixth on Keith Law’s new list a ESPN.com.
Two players who very well could become available, however, are Wandy Rodriguez and Carlos Corporan, Sullivan reports. Texas is open to moving Corporan and pairing Tomas Telis with Robinson Chirinos behind the dish. As for Rodriguez, multiple teams have told the Rangers that they consider the veteran lefty a fallback option if they’re unable to secure other targets in trades.
The fate of Yovani Gallardo, Sullivan writes, will be determined closer to the trade deadline. The Rangers won’t want to move him if they’re still in the hunt for the division title, but poor performances in pre-deadline matchups against the Angels and Astros could cause him to become available.
If Texas performs well in those two intra-division series, however, it does remain possible that Daniels and his staff will make some incremental moves to bolster the roster. Wilson lists a right-handed bat to balance out the lineup (noting that someone of Justin Upton’s caliber simply is not realistic) as well as another reliable reliever to pair with closer Shawn Tolleson and solid rookie setup man Keone Kela. Daniels himself mentioned earlier this week that the Rangers would pursue such targets.
I think the Jays or Red Sox will eventually land Hamels…..
Jays package,Norris..Pentecost..Castro or Foley….
Soxs package,Owens..Margot..Devers or Chavis….
sure but throw in pappelbon for TO
I like the Jays deal, but no way the Sox give up 3 top 60 prospects for 1 guy.
Rangers seemed the most likely for me, because they haven’t been afraid to go get the big arm in the past, but that seems gone now. Garza, Dempster, Lee, Gallardo and Darvish, and thats just in the last 5 years.
I certainly don’t want the Phillies to get less than they should for Hamels, but most realistic Phillies fans know its time to just take what you can get.
I thought maybe that Chi Chi plus a catcher deal had some legs. Things change fast…who knows
From the sounds of it, Amaro just picks 2-3 guys from each organization and HAS to have one in any Hamels trade.
Dodgers: Joc, Seager, Urias
Cubs: Schwarber, Russell
Sox: Betts, Swihart
Rangers: Gallo, Mazara, Alfaro
Padres: Seemingly Myers, Renfroe and Wisler were the guys
I disagree….there’s no rush for the Phils to just unload Hamels unless they think he’s just burned out and is only going to get worse. I would hate to see Texas give up young prospects. Garza and Dempster were really disappointing mid-season pickups. Lee didn’t do well for Texas in the regular season but excelled in the playoffs. So far, none of the players Texas has given up has proven to be another Sammy Sosa mistake. Time will tell on the Garza deal however. BTW, Texas has three pitchers coming back from DL….Harrison, Perez and Holland—-although Harrison’s return to the bigs was not encouraging. Darvish probably won’t be back until June next year.
The Phillies really need to get a rebuild going and Hamels is the only player on the roster who could jump start a rebuild. Howard/Utley/Lee have pretty much zero trade value, Revre is decent but wont bring much back. Giles is good but relievers arnt gonna bring back huge pieces unless you find a team thats desperate. GIles is the guy they should hold onto until a team overpays. Hamels will 100% get them two good quality prospects and two-three others to that will boost farm depth.
I don’t see the Jays obtaining Hamels. Have you seen Hamels stats against the AL clubs. 65 innings pitched, 45 runs given up and 14 home runs in 65 innings. He is an NL pitcher and that is where he has success. Why should the Jays trade any player of value for another RA Dickey that would be a liability in the AL. Factor in the fact that Hamels himself said he would veto any trade to Houston and Toronto and it becomes a bullet dodged for both teams.
I think it is safe to assume that this sample size is small enough over his long career that it doesn’t mean a whole lot. I think realistically that any AL East team acquiring Hamels would be in-line for a Lester type performance. Obviously not as good as he has been in the NL, but good enough to where he is still an ace in a hitter-friendly division.
More likely a Dodged Playoff Spot , without him.
If that’s the Case , then why is Jays been Busting their butts Trying to get him, Happ excelled in Canada and Cole is five times better, that being said , he’s a Southern Calf. Dude and he rather be in Texas with the Nuts.
Not sure why you cherry picked those numbers, when his career total numbers in interleague are also terrible and make a better argument:
190 IP, 4.73 ERA 1.36 WHIP. That’s Cole Hamels record in interleague games. No thanks if you’re an AL team.
Either of those player are 2nd and third rd tier Prospects , Phils can’t afford to give a Pitcher of Hamels quality for that. And they are right in demanding Aplles for apples. I do see the Reds taking those Players for their three Month rental .
Wait who do you consider 2nd tier prospects?
All !
So if all prospects are 2nd tier, then are there no first tier?
No way the Sox make a trade for Hamels because the Phillies would want more than that and the Red Sox ain’t giving up the farm for an over 30 pitcher who can’t win against AL teams.
Nope. Sox are gonna have to include Betts or Swihart to make that one work. No one wants Margot or Devers.
The interest in Cole Hamels seems to have died down for quite a few teams that were interested earlier in the year. The Astros, Red Sox, and Rangers look as though they aren’t interested anymore (or never was). My bet is that he is traded to the Dodgers (or is still in Philly after this year).
Phillies could very easily wait until winter to deal him. There will possibly be more teams involved then.
I think there would be less teams involved because you’ll have 4 front-line starters plus Samardzija, Fister, Iwakuma and Anderson are available.
The Phillies would prob need to deal with teams NOT wanting to spend 20m or more on one pitcher. Prob need to send 10m a year with Hamels and look to a small market/lower payroll team.
Cubs/Yankees/Dodgers/etc… aren’t going to throw prospects for Hamels instead of saving prospects and buying a pitcher
They don’t need to throw in money in a Hamels trade! Comparable free agent pitchers get contracts worth twice as much as what Hamels is getting!
Phils have plenty of Money, so all free angent can be in play for them, They can turn this franchise around a lot faster than people think and will.
It’s their Strategy, Like playing Poker with weak hand, phils having nothing to Lose by keep cole, unlike the teams mentioned. Overpay for Rental, or Overpay thru the Butt in Years and Money Later.
You are wrong about the Phillies having nothing to lose by keeping Hamels. By doing so they slow down the rebuild significantly.
Phils have plenty to lose, not acquiring prospects now rather than later delays a much needed rebuild and likely means an additional year or more of losing.
Do you think that acquiring a few B+ prospects is going to turn around a 29-62 team? The Phillies will have additional years of losing whether they trade Hamels or not.
No…but thats the point of trading Hamels now. Ether way they are gonna lose this season. In 3-4 years when those prospects are up and Hamels is older and no longer a top ace, those prospects will mix with several top Phillies Draft pics and the prospects they get back for Howard,Utley,Pap,Harang,Giles,Revire and the Phillies ability to sign free agents, thats when it will matter. The difference between holding onto him or trading him not not only effects this year but could directly impact the team for the next decade or more.
Prospects for Howard, Utley, …?
They could probably get a couple lower level guys for Howard if they ate alot of money. Yea its unlikely Utley gets anything back.
why rush to make a deal? the Phils are already awful and Hamels has several years under contract. This could be Philly’s last chance to deal for future help. Make it count.
Price replaces Cliff Lee Money and Cueto Replaces Hollday/Howard Money . Bingo Playoff again on the House Money !
Howard money is still on the book through next year and 50% of lees also. The Phillies are not going to pay close to $450 million for two pitchers. Thats unheard of an they simply do not have those resources They would still have holes at pretty much every postion..
Not to mention neither of those players are going to want to play for a team destined to lose 100+ this season.
I’ve always questioned the conventional wisdom that Hamels’ contract is so great. He’s 32 this year…what’s so great about tying yourself to a 32 year old for 4 more years, even if his deal is a few million per annum below market?
Also, this time of year, teams are concerned about winning this year. Taking on his long contract muddies the water..he’s more of a December trade guy.
He doesn’t turn 32 until December, you only have him signed through his age 34 season guaranteed (35 for the option), While giving David Price or Cueto a 7 year deal is guaranteeing them through their age 36 seasons, plus any potential options have them through their age 37 seasons, plus you’re saving probably about 100M on Hamels.
Right, but as Overbrook stated, teams that are seeking pitching help want to win now. David Price and Cueto are the better targets. I suspect that just as Amaro is overvaluing Hamels, many fans are as well.
But they couldn’t trade him last December either.
The fact is that he is an ace on a great contract than the ones that are most commonly available (either via free agency, or rentals at the deadline). He obviously isn’t a perfect fit for a lot of teams, but he would be extremely valuable to any team that wants a great pitcher for the next few years and can afford him.
They could have traded him in January to Texas before they went for Gallardo but Rosenthal said the money was the big hurdle (not Amaro’s asking price in prospects). Prob missed the boat there.
Not if you want to WIN Now !
The way teams are talking about holding on to top prospects, I’d be shocked to see the Phillies land a top 100 prospect, or anyone remotely close to being both a difference maker and nearly MLB ready. They may get a package consisting of a few young high risk/high reward players, but I doubt they’ll get anything better than that.
Amaro won’t trade him then. There are 2 things Amaro fears, and that is giving Hamels away for nothing, or getting a top prospect that busts.
I agree. I think the Phillies keep Hamels but work out a deal for Papelbon.
The Orioles traded a top 100 prospect in Eduardo Rodriguez last year for two months of Andrew Miller. Somebody is gonna give the Phillies a top 100 prospect, or a few, and it is going to be up to their FO to take the offer or not.
headed to Houston… McCullers and Santana. – you want Singleton back?
Not Enought !
McCullers isn’t going anywhere – he may be the AL Roy.
Rangers can get Gaza Back , maybe Lohse too on the cheap. And then spend the winter asking themselves why did’nt we ger Cole Hamels.
Hamels would be nice, but the Rangers are kind of in limbo between contending and rebuilding. Even if fully healthy I didn’t expect them to be much better than a .500 team this season.
I’d rather see Rangers have patience with comebacks of Holland and Perez than deal for the Brewers dead wood.
Why , Garza can at least Lead League in Homers ( Souvenirs )! Loshe can make all games interesting even with 10 runs leads, It’s that the Rangers way !
I think Amaro waited to long to trade Hamels….his trade value has dropped….Since June 1st, Cole is 0-3 with a 4.89era and missed a start with an injured hamstring…..Hamels hasn’t won a game since May 23rd……
That ERA is highly inflated by his last start against the Giants. If you take that start out, he has a 3.23 since June 1st.
Hamels not winning a game doesn’t mean anything because wins are arbitrary and he plays for the worst team in baseball in a lineup that only has 3 competent hitters, and 2 of them are slap hitters.
Brixton, your reply should have been, “Yes. Amaro has screwed up the Hamels situation by overvaluing him.” Think about this logically. If the Tigers make Price available and you are a contending team, who looks more valuable to you right this very moment. Be itellectually honest.
So teams will give up more for 2 months of Price compared to 3 years plus of Hamels? Even though Hamels had a better WAR in 2013 and 2014 and is now just behind Price due to a poor start?
The Braves could do Julio Teheran and Chris Dowd, Jr. for Jorge Alfaro and Nomar Mazara.
Why would a contending team in the AL trade for Hamels when Cueto is available for less?
Hamels in interleague, career: 190 IP, 4.73 ERA
Cueto in interleague, career: 174 IP, 2.64 ERA
Who says he’s available for less?
RAJ wanting every teams #1 prospect? The Reds haven’t been as vocal about what they want for the Cueto rental.
I’ve never seen an interview where either RAJ says he wants every team’s #1 prospect or Walt Jocketty says he doesn’t. I think people are in for a serious surprise when hey find out what Jocketty will want for Cueto. He gets 1st round pick if he loses him to a QO so he’s going to want two top prospects at least in any deal. I’d guess that his price tag will be similar to Hamels, although what Hamels’ price tag is right now is media speculation.
Dislike Hamels’ contract? Why!? Free agent pitchers of his caliber get like twice as much money as Hamels is getting!