Assuming normal rest, Cole Hamels is scheduled to start for the Phillies on July 19, July 25 and July 31, Jake Kaplan of the Philadelphia Inquirer notes. That July 31st start is a night game, so Hamels could be scratched if he’s dealt prior to the deadline earlier that afternoon (assuming he hasn’t already been traded before the 31st). Here’s some more from Philadelphia and elsewhere around the NL East…
- The Braves had discussed packaging Jason Grilli and Jim Johnson together in trade talks, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports, with the idea that two relievers would bring back a larger return from a bullpen-needy team. That plan was scuttled when Grilli suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon tear yesterday, though Johnson remains a trade candidate.
- Bowman’s piece lists several possible trade chips on the Braves roster, including Johnson, Chris Johnson, Kelly Johnson, Cameron Maybin, Juan Uribe and A.J. Pierzynski. In regards to Pierzynski, Bowman believes Atlanta will try to bring the catcher back in 2016 even if they do trade him this year.
- Nationals GM Mike Rizzo broadly discussed his team’s general deadline plans with reporters, including Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post. The Nats lineup will be boosted by the returns of several stars from the DL, and while Janes feels Washington could use another relief arm, Rizzo praised the job done by current relievers like Aaron Barrett and Blake Treinen.
- It’s only a matter of time before Aaron Nola is promoted to the majors, CSNPhilly.com’s Jim Salisbury writes, and he believes the Phillies could call Nola up within “the next couple of weeks, possibly in tandem with a trade deadline move.” This is just my speculation, but promoting Nola to fill Hamels’ roster spot would be a good the-future-is-now type of move.
- Several scouts believe former Angels GM Jerry Dipoto would be a good fit as the Phillies’ next general manager, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick tweets. Interestingly, Dipoto’s former assistant GM in Anaheim, Matt Klentak, has also been mentioned in connection to a job in the new Andy MacPhail-run Phillies front office.
- In NL East news from earlier today, the Pirates have interest in Phillies outfielders Ben Revere and Jeff Francoeur.
Phillies keep Hamels , Clubs are low balling Philadelphia! Let them over pay for 3 month rental or Really get it next October when the piper of Big Bucks knocks sense into their heads and wallets.
As a fan, I am hoping that the Braves don’t give up on this season. There are so many names being thrown around that may be available in trade and with many teams willing to trade bad contracts to fill needs, I hope John Hart goes that route.
ATL taking on bad contracts or trading them? Only bad contract for ATL is Chris Johnson. I don’t see many teams biting on that without an injury — even still, a better Uribe could be a better option for teams. If that’s the case then they’ll have to choose better prospects or money off the books.
Two weeks ago when Dipoto quit, I tweeted the that Phillies should be all over him for their next GM with Gardenhire as the manager.
Right. Gardy is just the guy to implement the GM’s sabermetrics.
Boy, you don’t realize how many Johnson’s are on the Braves until they’re all listed in a row like that.
Seeing all those names there for ATL really speaks to what Hart is doing. Before the season, almost none of those really had much value, now they look like decent roster option for a contender. Cameron Maybin is playing his best baseball (and I really hope he can stick around unless we’re blown away), while Kelly Johnson is surprisingly a contact hitter with some power, again.
Trade Hamels! Get while you can before his value goes down even further. Teams will come around this trade deadline.
They won’t trade him for the sake of just taking whatever they can get – the return MUST be fair or they are better off keeping him. His value isn’t declining. It may be even higher during the winter after Cueto, Price, Greinke and Zimmerman sign. Then whoever misses out on those 4 will come to the Phillies for Hamels.
Maybe even more so after Price signs, because Hamels and Price are both lefties and compare almost exact stats – except Price will get 200 million… will also make Hamels worth even more because of his contract.