May 23, 2015
Now past his usual slow start, Cole Hamels takes the mound today in Washington with a 1.69 ERA in his last three starts. He’s picked up wins and lasted at least seven innings in all of those outings.
If Hamels continues to pitch well, the trade speculation will only get ramped up. Actually, it’s already started. While the Boston Red Sox are widely considered the most logical trade partner, CBS’ Jon Heyman passed along some intel that another American League East team wanted in on the Hamels sweepstakes:
According to sources, the Blue Jays inquired about Cole Hamels but were told Hamels would not waive his 20-team no-trade clause to go to Toronto, as is his right (Hamels, meantime, has handled things professionally; he hasn't complained and generally pitched well for the non-contending Phillies). That Hamels call was a blow to the Phillies, who likely saw Toronto, with all its young pitching talent (Aaron Sanchez, Daniel Norris, etc.) as a potential landing spot, especially considering their frustration in landing the marquee prospect they desire and these two teams' solid trading history.
Norris and Sanchez are both considered Top-100 prospects, and a trade package including either of them as the headliner would’ve obviously been attractive to the Phillies. As of last season, a few of the reported teams that Hamels could be shipped to without his permission were the Padres, Dodgers, Nationals, Braves, Cardinals, Red Sox, Angels, Rangers, and Yankees. He adjusted that list this past offseason, only leaving two of the four A.L. teams and taking the Red Sox off.
The conventional wisdom is that starting pitchers are generally more likely to move once further identify areas of need at the deadline approaches.
Hamels, whose ERA is down to 3.24 on the season and hasn’t given up a home run in his last three starts will start later today against Stephen Strasburg.
