 |
| Photo by Richard Wilkins Jr. |
I've been watching Cole Hamels since he came up. I've seen him win some big games, and lose a few too. He's won a World Series MVP award, made some All-Star teams, and become the ace of the staff. He's under contract through 2018 at least, and he's only 30 years old, so he could have a long time left in Philadelphia. The Phillies are in last a week before the trade deadline though, so he may have thrown his last game as a Phillie.
What a game it was, and what a season he's having. Hamels punched out ten in eight innings yesterday, and saved the Phillies from being swept. Above, you can see a picture of him striking out Hunter Pence. It was a great game to see, in a year of bad games. Hamels has made the season a little more worth watching.
I'm coming around though to the idea that this may have been it for the Phillies and Hamels. Cole Hamels has over $100 million still on his contract, and yet is the most valuable trade chip that the Phillies have. The Phillies have an utterly terrible roster, and he is the one piece that could start to move them towards significant improvement. You may love it, you may hate it, but Cole Hamels could fetch three or four players that are on the 2015 team, and represent improvements on what we have. There isn't anyone else on this roster who returns as much right now. There also isn't anyone on the roster owed more money than him.
If the goal is to shed payroll and retrieve prospects, Cole Hamels is the most lucrative piece they have available. Now, clearly I wouldn't trade him for less than three premium players, so I'd be fine with him starting Opening Day in 2015. I'm simply saying that the Phillies would be wrong to not take a good deal for Cole.
Watching the end of the 2008 group is painful as a fan. Cole is the one piece that I could see lasting until the next run for this club. That is also why he's our most valuable chip. I'm glad I was at his last home start before the deadline. It's just how we'll all remember Cole.
