Are you sick of the Phillies not doing anything to start this rebuild they've claimed to be committed to? Join the club. Perhaps the most popular trade topic this offseason is whether ot not the Phils will deal former World Series MVP, Cole Hamels, to replenish the farm system with young talent for the future.
Arguments can be seen from either way. With the Phillies unlikely to contend in the coming years, trading Hamels makes sense. Keeping a guy like him on a team that is not destined for postseason play doesn't do him or the Phils any good. Dealing him for young prospects is a very viable option if the right deal is offered and it shouldn't be anything less than two of a team's top prospects. On the other hand, trading Hamels could be a detriment to an already struggling team of veterans. Some don't understand why you would trade one of the most effective left-handed starters in the game.
The Dodgers have an attractive chunk of prospects that would offer a nice return if the Phillies were to work out a deal involving Hamels. According to Ken Rosenthal though, a Hamels deal to the Dodgers for their young talent seems unlikely at this point.
While recent reports have linked the Dodgers to Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels, such a trade is unlikely – at least for now.
The Phillies would want one of the Dodgers’ top position prospects, shortstop Corey Seager or outfielder Joc Pederson, in any Hamels deal, according to major-league sources.
And the Dodgers, rather than part with premium young talent and assume the remainder of Hamels’ contract, can purchase a free-agent pitcher for a comparable price and give up no more than a draft pick. [FoxSports.com]
According to Rosenthal, the Dodgers, who definitely do not have money issues, have shown interest in Jon Lester, James Shields and Max Scherzer, one of whom could be acquired for a price that doesn't involve their young talent.
With Zack Greinke having the option to opt out of his contract after 2015 and Dan Haren only signed through next season, the pitching rotation will definitely need to be addressed, but LA may need to shed the contract of one of their outfielders before committing to a lucrative deal with one of the free agents this offseason.
Rosenthal goes on to say that the Dodgers don't necessarily need to make a move for the rotation this offseason as next year's starting pitcher free agent class looks to be even deeper than this one. That being said, he recognized how Hamels could be a bargain compared to the other guys.
Given the commitments to Kershaw and Ryu, a right-hander such as Scherzer or Shields seemingly would make more sense than a lefty such as Lester. Then again, the Dodgers need not act immediately, knowing that the free-agent class next off-season will be even deeper.
That class could include not only Greinke, but also right-handers Jordan Zimmermann, Doug Fister, Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija, as well as lefty David Price and others.
Hamels, who turns 31 on Dec. 27, is arguably as good or better than any of those pitchers, and the remaining four years and $90 million on his contract likely will look a bargain after Lester and Scherzer sign their new deals.
The biggest issue facing the Phillies at this point is getting the Dodgers to part with some of their prospects, which is unlikely under their new president of baseball operations, who has deemed guys like Cory Seager, Joc Pederson and Julio Urias off limits.
The problem is that the Phillies want young talent for Hamels. And the Dodgers, under new president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, remain reluctant to part with the prospects that the previous front deemed off-limits at the July 31 non-waiver deadline – Seager, Pederson and left-hander Julio Urias.
Rosenthal also looks at a possibility of including Rollins in a deal with Hamels to LA, saying he would be a good "bridge" for the Dodgers until Seager is ready.
For now, it seems sitting and waiting is the only thing Phillies fans can do and it is getting old really fast.
Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor for Philliedelphia.com
