Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee trade targets for New York Yankees?
The New York Yankees need starting pitching and are expected to inquire into the availability of some arms leading up to the trading deadline at the end of July and two of those names could be Philadelphia Phillies left-handers, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels.
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The Yankees missed out on Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel who the Chicago Cubs traded to the Oakland Athletics in a blockbuster trade on the Fourth of July, but according to CBSSports’ Jon Heyman, “the Yankees would surely look at Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels if they were to become available.
Would the Phillies put one or both on the market?
Hamels signed a lucrative extension in 2012 that will pay him $90 million from 2015-2018 and carries a $19 million option in 2019, which may prove to be difficult for the Yankees to fit in their budget.
Yes, even the Yankees have a budget and considering they will have to pay Alex Rodriguez and C.C. Sabathia for the next few years, it may be tough to absorb that cost, which is why they wanted the cost-certainty of Samardzija and/or Hammel.
Lee has only been able to make 10 starts this season due to an elbow injury, but is expected to return around the All-Star break, which could give him two-three starts to audition for a trade. His five-year, $120 million contract runs through 2015.
A deal for either of these two aces would begin with the Phillies asking for Dellin Betances in return.