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The Cole Hamels situation has been a never-ending saga this offseason, and it's continued straight through spring training. Seemingly every week there has been a new rumor about who the new front-runner is. Friday the Rangers were brought up again as Jon Heyman reported Texas and Philadelphia have remained in contact all spring, although the talks don’t appear to be close.
The Rangers are an interesting team to be involved here, especially after losing current ace Yu Darvish for the season. They’re targeting Hamels despite coming off a brutal 67-win campaign, and many projection systems and experts having them pegged for another down year. Texas still has hope in 2015 as they plan for a healthy lineup that should include bounce-back years from Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo. They’ve already pulled off a win-now trade this offseason by dealing youth for Yovani Gallardo. Hamels would be an ideal Darvish replacement in 2015, a co-ace with him in 2016 and beyond, and they have plenty of young talent to satisfy Ruben Amaro’s insatiable demands.
It’s a new rumor that puts the Rangers out in front in a competition that includes multiple other teams. The Red Sox won’t stop being included in these rumors until they either A) trade for another starting pitcher, or B) Hamels is traded elsewhere. Their lack of an ace is hardly a secret. The Yankees also need some rotation help, and have been considered front-runners themselves in recent weeks. The Padres were in the mix earlier in the winter, but their budget may be maxed out after the James Shields signing. The Dodgers have also been named numerous times during this process, but their name comes up for every available and expensive player. The Rangers appear to be in the driver's seat as of this moment, but the saga looks like it still has a while to go until we find out how it ends.
- In an effort to add more excitement to the last day of the regular season, MLB has come up with a great new idea, where every team playing Game 162 will be played at the same time.
- The White Sox continued their quest to lock up their young core, signing Adam Eaton to a five-year, $23 million extension. The move gives Chicago some rare stability atop their lineup.
- Last year's number one overall pick, Brady Aiken, figures to be a high draft pick yet again in the 2015 amateur draft. However, he was forced to leave his first start of the year with an arm injury. It's a brutal blow in what has been a rough stretch for the 18-year-old.
- The baseball world held its collective breath yesterday as Clayton Kershaw was hit in the face with a line drive. He ended up being fine, and even continued to pitch in the game.
- Cubs fans got a kick in the stomach yesterday when prized free agent arm Jon Lester was scratched from a start due to dead arm. His arm isn't actually dead, it's just a morbid expression, and "tired arm" sounds like a lame excuse.
- It was assumed Aaron Sanchez would be working out of the bullpen this season, but he now looks to be pegged for the rotation as a potential Marcus Stroman replacement. There are plenty of reasons to be excited, but there are reasons to be worried as well.
- Javier Baez is one of the most polarizing young players in the game right now, but no matter how you think of him, everyone assumed he'd be a major leaguer all year long. Joe Maddon wants you to temper those expectations.
- The Phillies have a nice, slightly used Ryan Howard for sale. Does anyone want him? Anyone? Bueller?
- Alex Rodriguez is back, and he's not going to let you forget it.
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