Cole Hamels remains the top trade target on the market this season and the Phillies may look at the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, LA Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles as potential options, as Philadelphia is looking for a package at the trading deadline that includes prospects to build for the future.
Hamels has been mentioned in trade rumors for quite some time and as things push into the end of June, trade talk is starting to heat up. The Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers have long been mentioned as landing spots for Hamels and now the Texas Rangers have emerged as an option as well. The team is in second place in the AL west and they have a strong farm system that they can use to add a top of the line pitcher. According to Jon Morosi at Fox, the Rangers have been interested in Hamels and the Phillies have been scouting prospects in the Texas farm system.
Morosi reported that the Phillies were looking at "trade chip" Chi Chi Gonzalez and he could be part of a package if the teams pull off a deal. Hamels reportedly is not willing to waive his no trade clause for the Astros and that means the Rangers could jump in, as Houston is in first place but may fade down the stretch. The Rangers see an opening to get into the top of the division and it comes as they were not expected to be contenders this season.
Morosi has reported that the Rangers and Phillies have had an "ongoing dialogue" about Hamels. The Phillies are eager to trade Hamels, as he is pitching very well over the last year and a half, including last season when he put together one of his best overall performances. Hamels is pitching against the Yankees and coming into the start he is 5-5 on the season with a solid 2.96 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 103 strikeouts through 94 1/3 innings pitched this year. Morosi writes that Hamels would be willing to waive his no trade for the Rangers.
The Red Sox were considered to be the "favorites" earlier in the season, but the team may sit tight and play this year out after having some struggles. The rotation has been a mess and they could go after Hamels, while the Orioles have also emerged as an option. According to Joel Sherman at the New York Post, the Dodgers are also interested in Hamels. Hamels has four years on his deal and is just 31 and with Zack Greinke eligible to opt out, the team could try and get another top line ace. Sherman writes that one of the Dodgers' "main scouts, Galen Carr" is watching Hamels at the Yankees-Phillies game.
Speaking of those Yankees, they are also a main option for Hamels, as the team has been dealing with some up and down pitching from CC Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka. Even with Ivan Nova coming back, the team could be in the mix for Hamels. The tough part is a package of prospects, as the other teams in the mix have deeper systems than the Yankees. According to NJ.com, Hamels would be open to being traded to the Yankees.
