ESPN.com reporter Tim Kurkjian joined the Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney podcast Wednesday to discuss the latest rumors regarding the fast-approaching, July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
Kurkjian provided insight from throughout the league, much of which concerned the Philadelphia Phillies and their available left-handed ace, Cole Hamels, as well as closer Jonathan Papelbon:
"I think the Phillies are going to have to sell Cole Hamels and Jonathan Papelbon. I think it's to the point now where it waited so long, and now with new people in, [MacPhail and Gillick] are going to be watching Ruben Amaro. They're going to make sure he makes the best deal, because I think Andy knows as well as anyone, when you have to rebuild, you have to do the whole thing.
The way to do that properly at this point, to me at least, is to move Hamels, and to move Papelbon. Somebody's going to want both of them, especially Hamels because I don't care that he's 0-4 with a 4.47 [ERA] since May 23, he's still a really good pitcher."
Rumors
- Houston Astros
"I don't think [the Astros] are going to go out and make the big investment in a pitcher, even though they need one. They need somebody to help Dallas Keuchel along, and help those young players along, that 'hey we're in a pennant race, and here comes a seasoned veteran to get us through this.'
I think they're plan was for 2016. They're ahead of schedule, but they're not going to mess with their plan, from what I told, and they're going to stay the course. They may add somebody but they're not going to add a Hamels, Johnny Cueto type of guy because that's going to mess too much with their building plan with their young guys."
- Chicago Cubs
Seeing that the Chicago Cubs have only 26 games left against teams with records over .500, Olney suggested that now is the time to 'solidify their position' in the Wild Card race by adding a starting pitcher. Kurkjian agreed:
"Another team a year ahead of schedule. The difference is, they haven't won since 1908. The difference is, they have money and prospects to trade, unlike perhaps Houston, the Mets and some other teams.
So, they're in a position where, 'hey we have a shot at it this year. We have to take our shot now, because we're going to take another shot next year for sure.'
I think [the Cubs] are in for Hamels. I think they're in for Cueto. I think they're in for a big-time upgrade, especially given that Jon Lester hasn't been the pitcher that they needed him to be so far. So, why not take a shot at it?
Joe Maddon came in and said, 'we're going to contend the first year', and that's where they are right now. I think they're going to continue to do that, and they're going to continue to try to make their club better because they have a chance to win now."
See: Jon Lester Would Embrace Jonathan Papelbon-To-Cubs Trade: ‘I Love Pap’
- Los Angeles Dodgers
"The urgency to win with the Dodgers, I believe, is greater than any urgency. Greater certainly than Toronto, even though they haven't been to the playoffs since 1993. It's because that team was built to win a championship as soon as possible. …
They're not going to rest with a rotation that might be a little weak after their top two guys, and I fully expect them to be really active for [Hamels and alike]."
- Toronto Blue Jays
Olney believed that Toronto is bound to make a deal that 'shocks the baseball world in the next 16 days'. Kurkjian had the same thought process:
"I wouldn't be surprised. Again, they have a sense of urgency also, but I'm told they are only after a starting pitcher, not a reliever.
I'm told they only have $10 million to work with, not $25 million. I'm told that Cole Hamels is not going there, which means all signs point to Johnny Cueto and the Blue Jays. They know it's a winnable division and, '[Cueto] can take us from a relative .500 team to a division winner if we can get him'.
They have resources, we know they have a ton of money, whether they're willing to spend it or not. So I think they and the Dodgers are the two best bets to do something really big at the trade deadline."
This is significant, as the Blue Jays have been one of the few teams linked to Papelbon in recent weeks. Papelbon has said that returning to the AL East through joining them would be a 'good fit'.
Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
