Los Angeles Dodgers' president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was said to have been infatuated with Cincinnati Reds' ace Johnny Cueto. However, the latest trade rumors indicate there's a ton of interest in the right-hander right now.
As a result, the Dodgers might prefer waiting to sign him in the offseason.
So is Cole Hamels the next target of the team's front office?
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported yesterday the Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros are "aggressively" pursuing Cueto, which will undoubtedly increase his trade value. Each of those clubs have the prospects to offer the Reds in any deal, but none of them will be able to afford Cueto in the offseason, as he's expected to command a contract in excess of $150 million.
It's obvious the Dodgers can throw any amount of money at the right-hander and convince him to sign a long-term deal, so why would they surrender one of their prospects to acquire him for two months when they can wait to get him in the offseason?
Los Angeles' main focus right now is ensuring the stability of their starting rotation beyond 2015. Acquiring Cueto would certainly improve their chances of making a deep postseason run, but there are too many questions surrounding their cast of starters heading into the offseason. Hamels would be a crucial solution to that problem since he's under contract through 2018.
"With Zack Greinke pitching his way into opt-out riches (joining that aforementioned flooded free-agent market), the Dodgers can ensure they continue to have an elite pair atop their rotation in 2016 and beyond while aligning a division-clinching, October-shifting threesome of Clayton Kershaw, Greinke and Hamels in the short-term," writes Anthony Castrovince of Sports on Earth. "They certainly have the finances to handle Hamels' deal, and they've got the prospects to make this trade without giving up Corey Seager and Julio Urias."
However, Hamels just tossed his career-worst start against the San Francisco Giants and gave up nine earned runs in just 3 1/3 innings and saw his ERA balloon to 3.63. Still, this doesn't concern Phillies' general manager Ruben Amaro.
"No, I'm not worried about Cole Hamels and his value," the GM told Corey Seidman of CSN Philly. "People know what he is."
Trade rumors surrounding the Dodgers have been quiet as of late. Those involving Hamels haven't been too plentiful either because the Phillies are undergoing a change in management and it may affect their trade plans before the deadline.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports listed Hamels as one of the Dodgers' top potential trade targets in his latest edition of Inside Baseball and also weighed in on Hamels possibly wanting to head home to California.
"While it is said that Hamels may consider Boston on top of his nine pre-approved teams, some believe the San Diego product may be 'California dreamin' (meaning he's hoping to go home)."
Hamels is from San Diego, which is two hours from Los Angeles. Considering the Padres are no longer contenders and wouldn't be able to afford Hamels anyway, the Dodgers continuously appear to be a top suitor for the left-hander.
