Just when you think everything possible has been said on the subject, the Phillies, Boston Red Sox, and Cole Hamels keep coming up in the same sentence. I think we all get it by now: the Phillies want good prospects, while the Red Sox have named everyone "untouchable" in a trade. The latest news probably does not change that.
Yesterday, WEEI's Rob Bradford reported that the Phillies have "changed their approach" in regards to trading ace pitcher Cole Hamels:
According to a major league source familiar with the Phillies’ way of thinking, Philadelphia recently has altered its approach in regards to dealing Cole Hamels … somewhat.
Per the source, the Phillies now are willing to take on more of Hamels’ remaining salary than they had been earlier in the season. Philly hasn’t, however, backed off its demand for the kind of premier talent potential trade partners don’t currently seem comfortable giving up.
If anything, this is an indication that the Phillies are willing to deal with teams other than the Boston Red Sox.
First of all, the Red Sox do not need money eaten to play the salary of Cole Hamels. This is a team that just committed almost the same amount of money ($20.5 million a season) to mediocre starter Rick Porcello. Like they Phillies, they have money and would spend it on promising young players. The Red Sox would pay more if they were able to keep prospects.
Second of all, the Boston Red Sox have given no indication with their play that they are a Cole Hamels away from making a difference. Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington made his bed: he entered the season with a starting rotation of Clay Buchholz, Rick Porcello, Joe Kelly, Justin Masterson, and Wade Miley. That rotation has the Red Sox in last place in the American League East, seven games under the .500 mark. Granted, the division-leading Rays and Yankees are only one game over .500, but the longer this plays out, the Red Sox could be too bad to add Cole Hamels.
Should the Phillies be willing to step up their game to eat salary, this would benefit some of the smaller teams that have prospects and would love to have Cole Hamels, but they cannot afford his salary. That could include teams like the first-place Houston Astros, the Kansas City Royals (not St. Louis but not all that far from his wife's childhood home), and perhaps the first-place Minnesota Twins. The Twins and Astros are the teams that need a Hamels to put them over the top.
The Astros may not wish to give up their blue chip prospect (shortstop Carlos Correia) and the Minnesota Twins theirs (outfielder Byron Buxton), but either team could see this as a rare opportunity to win now. Last season shortstop Addison Russell seemed to be an untouchable shortstop prospect, but the Oakland Athletics decided he was worth Jeff Samardzija in a potential pennant run. Either would be worth eating significant money for.
So, forget the Red Sox. They horde prospects. They're bad. But this news could mean something for other teams who do not have the cash.
