Cole Hamels remains the top trade option for teams in need of pitching at the trading deadline this summer and teams like the Boston Red Sox, NY Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago White Sox could be interested in making the deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Hamels is coming into the season at the age of 31 and he will be the top trade option at the deadline after numerous teams inquired about him this offseason. Jon Heyman at CBS Sports writes that the Boston Red Sox are considered the favorites for Hamels and it comes as their rotation is struggling this season. The Red Sox have the inside track due to their farm system, as the Phillies likely want some prospects to come back in any deal they make.
The Boston Globe reported earlier in the season that the Red Sox made a "serious" offer to the Phillies for Hamels, but that it had too many major league players in it and not minor league prospects. The Phillies are hoping to restock their farm system with this deal and that makes the Red Sox logical partners, as they have a deep roster of prospects. Hardball talk reports that the Phillies are willing to "get creative" in the deal and that they could pay part of Hamels' salary, which could convince a team like the Red Sox to be more willing to give up top prospects.
Hamels has never dealt with any major injuries and that could make him a target for a number of teams through the season. The Yankees rotation is looking much weaker without Masahiro Tanaka and there is a chance he could be out for over a month. The Dodgers had Brandon McCarthy go down with Tommy John surgery after injuring his elbow, while the Blue Jays lost Marcus Stroman in the lead up to the season.
The Red Sox brought in Rick Porcello this offseason and they also have Joe Kelly and Wade Miley along with Clay Buchholz, but overall the rotation has not been great. Miley has been up and down and if the struggles continue in the rotation, the Red Sox could step up and make the trade for Hamels. Last season Hamels went 9-9, but he had an ERA under 2.50 and he is just 31 years old, giving him a number of prime years left as a starting pitcher.
The Yankees want to wait and see what happens to Masahiro Tanaka and that could keep them out of the mix. Hamels has not been great yet this season, going 1-3 with a 4.14 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched.
Hamels comes in after having a very strong season in 2014 and he has not had any major injury issues in his career. Hamels had made at least 30 starts in every season apart from his first two years in the majors and he went 9-9 last season with a 2.46 ERA and 198 strikeouts in just over 200 innings. Hamels will be the top trade target at the deadline and teams with injuries likely will be first in line to start talking to Philly.
