The Phillies continue to shop LHP Cole Hamels. Teams are interested in trading for him but just not at Ruben Amaro Jr.’s asking price and Hamels admitted Monday he would like to be traded to a team that has a chance to win for the duration of his current contract.
Cole Hamels reported to Spring Training with the Phillies in Clearwater on Monday and he talked about his situation with USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
Nightengale clarified early in his report that Hamels is not demanding a trade but he realizes the state of the organization. The Phillies have to rebuild and it’s unlikely Hamels will pitch in a meaningful game for several seasons. For Hamels it’s all about winning and not just in the regular season, but more importantly in October. Hamels wants to be in a situation with a perennial contender. And that’s he was expecting, and told would happen when he signed the contract with the Phillies.
Friends texted Hamels updates throughout the winter and he admitted to Nightengale that he checked the internet for the latest rumors. Hamels wants to know where he’s going to pitch for at least the next four, if not five, years.
At least eight teams have kicked the tires on Hamels this off-season and four teams have made real trade offers. The Red Sox are one of the four and the other three teams have not been identified.
The Cubs had conversation with the Phillies about Hamels this off-season according to Jon Paul Morosi. The Dodgers, Cardinals and Padres have also been linked heavily to Hamels this winter. After signing James Shields, it’s believed A.J. Preller is out of the Hamels market.
According to Bob Nightengale, Ruben Amaro Jr. has had “plenty of talks” with the Dodgers, Padres and Red Sox about Hamels and “continues to wait for an acceptable proposal.”
As previously reported, the Phillies will not let go of Hamels without receiving a package of prospects with at least one of a team’s top three prospects headlining the trade.
The Phillies will not trade Hamels to Boston without receiving C Blake Swihart in the deal, according to Nightengale, and the Padres offer of OF Hunter Renfroe and C Austin Hedges was not enough. Nightengale explained the Dodgers “have yet to include any of their top four prospects in a proposal” and the Phillies will not talk to the Cardinals if RHP Carlos Martinez is not in the conversation.
Nightengale’s information about the players the Phillies would like in return from the Red Sox, Dodgers, Padres and Cardinals falls in line with the information from Jon Paul Morosi about the Cubs “very, very firm line” on not including Kris Bryant or Addison Russell of Jorge Soler in any conversations for Hamels.
According to Peter Gammons, the Red Sox will not include INF/OF Mookie Betts or C Blake Swihart in any deal for Hamels. If the Phillies would pay down or include some of Hamels contract (four years, $96 million guaranteed; five years and $110 million if he waives no-trade clause), Ben Cherington might be in a position to send a package of players that includes LHP Henry Owens and OF Manuel Margot to Philadelphia for Hamels.
Cole Hamels told Bob Nightengale that he loves St. Louis and would welcome a trade to the Cardinals. His wife grew up in the area. Hamels grew up in Southern California so a trade to the Dodgers or Padres would suit him just as well. And he likes Dallas. As for the Red Sox who is on his no-trade list, Boston is the type of situation he’s looking for … a team that that would put him in position to win for the next five years.
Cole Hamels is expecting to spend the next six weeks with the Phillies preparing for the season. Where he could be on Opening Day is still in question.
- Full Report from Bob Nightengale
- Full Report from Peter Gammons
- Update: Red Sox Reportedly Not Close on Any Sort of Trade
- Update: Phillies are Waiting for a Team to Blink