MLB Rumors: Phillies Cole Hamels to the Red Sox?
The Philadelphia Phillies couldn’t do a thing leading up to the trade deadline. Then, they were unable to agree with the Cubs on a deal over Cole Hamels. Chicago reportedly claimed him last week, but that claim never came to fruition. But there’s more talk that Hamels could be headed elsewhere.
More from Boston Red Sox
- After frantic trade day, Kiké Hernandez grateful for second chance with Dodgers
- MLB Rumors: Potential Braves reunion, Lance Lynn no-trade clause and Orioles deadline intentions
- Braves-Red Sox start time: Braves rain delay in Boston on July 25
- MLB Trade Grades: Dodgers reunite with familiar face in Red Sox deal
- MLB Rumors: Braves trade package, White Sox-Reds deal, Mets disaster
CSN Insider Corey Seidman noticed that the Phillies had been heavily scouting the Red Sox over the last two weeks, which tipped some suspicion. The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo speculated about the scouting:
"“Don’t think in 30 years of covering baseball I’ve ever seen a team (the Phillies) spend so much time scouting another team (the Red Sox) and not pull the trigger on a deal. Even after the trade deadline, the Phillies have had a scout in Boston, St. Louis, and Anaheim watching Boston’s young players. The match would be Cole Hamels for young players, and it may very well heat up this offseason. Hamels, according to a source close to him, would be open to a deal with the Red Sox.”"
Hamels is owed $96 million from 2015 to 2018, which makes things a bit more complicated, but the Red Sox are one of the few teams positioned to take him on finically. In light of the Jon Lester and Jonny Gomes for Yoenis Cespedes trade, there’s little doubt the Red Sox would hesitate to make another blockbuster deal.
Seidman suggests that talented, young players like Xander Bogarts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Christian Vasquez are all possibilities for the deal.
As far as the Red Sox are concerned, no one is safe.