The potential trade of Phillies' ace Cole Hamels this offseason has been one of the heavily discussed topics throughout Major League Baseball. Hamels, 31, is set to earn $23.5 million per season through 2018, with a team option, vesting option, and/or buyout pending for the 2019 season.
Recent reports suggest that Hamels will not be dealt anytime soon, however, and that the lefty will wear red pinstripes at least for the start of his tenth season.
CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury believes the Phillies will have a tough time getting the value they are looking for this Winter in exchange for Hamels. They are ready to pull the trigger however according to Salisbury, and that they are in a "stare down" with four clubs: the San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers and the Boston Red Sox.
Hamels has reportedly expressed interest in joining former teammate Jimmy Rollins in Los Angeles, and especially a trade to the West Coast or Midwest, where his and his wife's family are respectively from.
NJ.com's Matt Lombardo writes:
If the Rangers are to become legitimate threats in the trade market, it likely would mean parting with some sort of package of Chi Chi Gonzalez, Jake Thompson, Luke Jackson, Nick Williams or Lewis Brinson, Corey Knebel, Phil Klein, Spencer Patton or Keone Kela, and Luis Sardinas.
The Phillies' ace has a 20 team no-trade list, and the most current list had Texas as one of the nine teams that he could be traded to.
Like the Rangers, the Cardinals are among the teams also not blocked by Hamels. They reportedly have been "exploring a trade" according to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal. The Padres and Red Sox are also teams free to trade for the southpaw without his consent. Even though Boston is not located in the West Coast or Midwest, Hamels may still approve of the trade for the chance to contend.
In 274 career starts, Hamels is 108-83 with a 3.27 ERA, and 1707 strikeouts in 1801.1 innings of work. He was the key piece in the Phillies' 2008 run when he was named the NLCS and World Series MVP. That postseason, he went 4-0, allowing just seven earned runs in 35.0 innings.
Matt Rappa (@mattrappa) is a contributor to Philliedelphia.com.
