As the Philadelphia Phillies wait longer and longer to trade starting pitcher Cole Hamels, his performance could drive down the team's asking price in a deal if he continues at his current rate.
Rumors suggest Phillies' general manager Ruben Amaro set the asking price for Hamels at three top prospects, which many opposing executives have said has him "out of touch" with the market for the left-hander. Hamels is owed $96 million over the next four seasons and Amaro is trying to fully relieve the team of his contract as well.
However, the 31-year-old is 0-2 with a 5.00 ERA and 1.167 WHIP in three starts this season against the Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals (twice). He has given up seven home runs in 18 innings of work as well. Such stats are likely to bring down the Phillies' requests for the veteran in a trade, right?
"Two bad starts out of three. Has the Phillies' price come down? According to one major league GM who has inquired, 'Not one bit.' The Phillies are willing to play it out until the trade deadline, figuring teams' rotations will trend one way or the other," writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
Oddly enough, the front-running candidate to land Hamels in the offseason was the Boston Red Sox, whose starting rotation is currently sitting on 4-5 record with a 6.24 ERA (last in MLB) and 1.42 WHIP (23rd in MLB). Their lack of an ace has clearly affected their rotation's performance, but Amaro wants outfielder Mookie Betts or prospect catcher Blake Swihart in a deal for Hamels, and the Red Sox have made it known they would not be doing that.
It will be interesting to see how this situation continues to develop. Hamels likely won't continue giving up two home runs per start, but what if he keeps performing at a less-than-stellar rate while Boston's rotation fails to help the team win games? That scenario would provide the most unlikely resolve as the trade deadline approaches and both of these clubs hope to make moves.
