There have been rumors suggesting Cole Hamels might not be dealt before the MLB's July 31 trade deadline. That's a possibility, but it's hard to believe. So where might the left-hander end up within the next nine days?
The Phillies' management is undergoing a transition with the addition of Andy MacPhail as team president next year and the possible departure of general manager Ruben Amaro (his contract expires after 2015). However, it is believed the Phillies will find a suitor for the veteran before the deadline.
"I think Hamels is going to move," ESPN's Tim Kurkjian said on the Baseball Tonight Podcast with ESPN Insider Buster Olney. "I talked to a general manager the other day and he said as long as [Hamels] is healthy, he will be inspired by a new place in a pennant race and he'll pitch a whole lot better."
ESPN senior writer Jayson Stark spoke with Amaro as well as other rival evaluators and executives throughout the MLB. Amaro said trading Hamels is not a "do-or-die" situation for the Phillies and they'll be seeking the "right return," which is likely to happen based on the teams they are involved in discussions with.
"The Phillies continue to talk to about a half-dozen teams about Hamels. But other clubs believe that, if he gets dealt this month, it will be to one of four destinations -- the Chicago Cubs, the Los Angeles Dodgers the Boston Red Sox or the Texas Rangers," Stark writes.
"The Phils are getting enough significant offers that it's becoming more likely Hamels will be dealt," ESPN Insider Jim Bowden adds. "That said, it'll have to be done early next week so there is time for a physical before any deal is completed."
The Cubs and Dodgers are believed to be leading those talks, while the Red Sox and Rangers appear less and less likely to strike a deal with the Phillies. Sure, the Red Sox can still do it if they're focused on 2016 since Hamels is under control through at least 2018, but other teams are in need of Hamels for a playoff push this year and will likely pursue him harder.
As for the Rangers, they could look to do the same as well, but a team source told T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com that if they were going to trade for Hamels, they "would have already done it by now." Nonetheless, they are still "continuing their pursuit" of the left-hander, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.
Now for the Cubs and Dodgers. They have the prospects and the money to make this deal. The Cubs are in dire need of rotation depth and so are the Dodgers, even with Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke. However, other options on the market could affect their talks with the Phillies, especially the potential availability of David Price. Los Angeles is also interested in Johnny Cueto while the Cubs could also be targeting Jeff Samardzija as well as some of the younger arms in the San Diego Padres' rotation.
Neither of these clubs want to surrender their top prospects and that's exactly what the Phillies might be asking for, given MacPhail is known to be patient with making big trades (he's a consultant with the Phillies right now and could be exerting his influence).
While the Cubs and Dodgers are seemingly the frontrunners for Hamels, no other club involved in talks with the Phillies can be ruled out at this point.
And neither can the possibility of him remaining in Philadelphia until the end of the season.
