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Say hey, baseball: Everyone wants to trade for Cole Hamels (unless he’s broken)
Monday morning’s baseball includes teams scouting Cole Hamels, Star Wars Day in D.C. and the reason the Reds wouldn’t trade Johnny Cueto until now. Subscribe for your daily Say Hey!
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
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The Dodgers, Rangers, Red Sox, Cubs and Orioles all sent scouts to watch Cole Hamels pitch on Sunday, in one of his last couple of outings before the July 31 trade deadline. The expectation is that the Phillies’ ace -- and the roughly $84 million still owed him -- will be dealt by that deadline, but there are two factors potentially working against that. The Phillies themselves, and Hamels’ recent performances.
The first of those isn’t a criticism of the Phillies or their front office, just so we’re clear. It’s simply a reminder that they won’t deal Hamels unless they feel the return is right. He’s under contract for three more years guaranteed in addition to an option for 2019, so this isn’t a Johnny Cueto or Jeff Samardzija situation where Hamels has to be traded now or all his team will get back for him is a draft pick.
Hamels’ recent performances also probably shouldn’t be too much of a concern, even if he’s allowed 14 runs in his last 6 1/3 innings and two starts, bringing his ERA from 3.02 to 3.91. It might end up being one considering the costs that go into acquiring the ace, though, as there are apparently concerns something is wrong with the lefty.
Hamels insists he’s healthy, and as he mentions, his track record should speak for itself -- these two starts will likely be forgotten by year’s end after Hamels has pitched his ERA back down to its usual levels. It’s easy to see a team on the fence back out of trade talks unless Hamels’ next start is of his usual quality, however. The thing is, though, that there will be plenty of other teams looking for Hamels to save their season -- and the next few seasons, too -- and so the Phillies will end up getting what they want after all.
- The Rockies still don’t seem willing to trade Troy Tulowitzki, but if they were, his performance since a slow start wouldn’t make it difficult to sell other teams on him.
- Aaron Sanchez will rejoin the Blue Jays this week, but it won’t be as a starter. Toronto hopes Felix Doubront can continue to fill that role while Sanchez stabilizes the bullpen.
- The Reds didn’t trade Johnny Cueto before the All-Star Game in order to spare their fans the indignity of seeing Cueto pitch in someone else’s uniform during the Midsummer Classic itself. You know, because the All-Star Game was the last time a visiting team’s players would ever show up at Great American Ballpark.
- The Nationals went all out on Star Wars Day, dressing up their groundskeepers and mascots, which resulted in President Theodore Chewbacca Roosevelt.
- That was all the fun the Nats had on Sunday, though, as Zack Greinke continued his scoreless streak by tossing another eight zeroes on the board.
- Remember when Edwin Jackson signed a four-year, $52 million deal before 2013? The Cubs just designated him (and the $16 million still owed him) for assignment in order to make room for a reliever.
- Doug Melvin spent an inning with the announcers on Saturday, and hinted at the Brewers’ trade deadline activities.
- James Shields and Justin Upton are available at the deadline, but the Padres’ high-priced players might not be in demand.
- Rougned Odor angered the Astros and caused benches to clear in the ninth inning. Then he bat-flipped on a triple.
- White Sox announcer Ed Farmer is not the biggest fan of the Royals.
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