While we’re still months from the non-waiver trade deadline, MLB.com’s Jon Morosi reports the details on Cole Hamels‘ limited no-trade clause (Twitter link). It’s already known that Hamels can block deals to 20 teams, but Morosi adds the nine teams to which Hamels can be traded without his consent: the Mariners, Cardinals, Nationals, Astros, Cubs, Phillies, Royals, Rays and Braves. Obviously, the inclusion of some teams in that list of nine is largely a moot point; the Royals and Rays in particular wouldn’t take on Hamels’ salary, for instance. The 34-year-old Hamels is earning $22.5MM this season and is also guaranteed at least $6MM in the form of a buyout on a $20MM club option for the 2019 season. The four-time All-Star and former NLCS and World Series MVP is looking for a rebound campaign after posting a career-low 6.4 K/9 and the second-highest ERA (4.20) of his career in an injury-shortened 2017 campaign.
A couple more notes out of Arlington…
- Rangers GM Jon Daniels tells Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he’s “leaning” toward keeping Bartolo Colon on the team’s roster as a means of preserving some rotation depth. Texas needs to open a 25-man roster spot for Martin Perez to come off the 10-day DL on Thursday, but they can’t make that move with Colon unless they designate him for assignment, at which point he’d be exposed to waivers and could reject an outright assignment even if he clears. “This early in the season, I’m more of the mind-set to add to our depth rather than to take it away,” said Daniels. The 44-year-old Colon held the A’s to one earned run on seven hits and a walk with four strikeouts through six innings in his Rangers debut yesterday.
- Though the Rangers added Cameron Rupp on a minor league deal earlier today, the move wasn’t made due to any concern over the team’s current big league tandem of Robinson Chirinos or Juan Centeno, manager Jeff Banister tells MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan. Rather, Texas simply felt it was a valuable opportunity to add a depth piece with plenty of big league experience. “I don’t think our catching is an area of concern, but I don’t think you can have enough quality catching,” said Banister. “…We know on any given night, one of these guys can go down.” Banister spoke highly of Rupp’s offensive ability and his throwing arm, citing several first-hand looks at Rupp from his days on the Pirates’ coaching staff.
I love it when you call me Big Sexy
I like the rangers pick up of Rupp, can’t really go wrong with a solid offensive option behind the dish.
Shohei Ohtani’s a bust
He just hit a 3 run home run
Corked bat.
I think it might just be that he’s really good
that’s not entirely accurate. Hamels is having a large portion of his contract paid by the Phillies. that was a big part of why Texas had to part with so many top prospects in that trade.
“Hamels is having a trivial amount of his contract paid by the Phillies.”
Fixed that for you.
Trog….The Phils only paid $9.5mm in cash with that trade….$7mm in paid in 2016 and $2.5mm paid this year baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamelco01.shtml#a…
mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/cole-hamels-rangers-tra…
thanks for the correction. I thought they were paying annual.
And what what was Texas’ real net loss. Eickhoff maybe. Alfaro? Phillies got a lot of prospects for Giles and Hamels but they haven’t had a whole lot of luck there.
Nick Williams isn’t bad
Thompson, at the time they also received Asher who theoretically gave them innings to supplement what they loss at the time. Pretty sure the Phils were more interested in saving the money . If you look at all the other moves at the time.to get 3/4 players who play any role on a 25 man roster is value
I don’t think the Phillies were more interested in saving money. They received 3 top 100 prospects at the time plus eickhoff and Asher. Salary dumps don’t involve 3 quality prospects. They just didn’t hit on those guys. Eick has been their most valuable contributor to date. It’s still early. Williams and/or Alfaro could get it together but to this point they have to be underwhelmed.
Eickhoff, Alfaro, Williams, Thompson.
You can say what ya want about the trade with the Astros, but all 4 of those guys can still become key pieces for the Phils. And we still have Eshelman from the the Giles deal,so there’s still some potential there as well.
Eickhoff vs Hamels since trade
3.87era 1.27whip 8.8h/9- 8.0k-2.6bb-1.2hr
3.73era 1.26whip 8.1h-8.2k-3.3bb-1.1hr
He’s okay. Not great defensively and he strikes out a ton. They got a lot of what we’re considered to be top 100 prospects and not a lot to show. Alfaro strikes out too much too. He’s no guarantee to be a quality regular either.
That’s fair. I think he could break out this year though if they find him enough AB’s
Texas is not going anywhere this year, would love to see them flip Hamels, Choo and Odor for prospects to build on for the next few years.
You might get back a few batting helmets and bat’s for Choo and odor. No one is going to trade any value for either of those contracts. Not unless they flip the script and go on a hitting rampage before the deadline.
Well lets just pack it up and go on home.This guy thinks we should.Lets just mail the Astros their trophy since theres no point in playing the actual games.Trade Hamels for rosin bags and the ghost of Josh Hamilton.
HIGHLY unlikely from any side.. but i’d like to see Cole a Pirate… won’t happen for all the reasons.. but still… when they rangers are getting ready to sell and/if the pirates are still around .500.. someone should at least make a call even if it mostly likely goes no where.