Cubs Rumors: Chicago may include Starlin Castro in a Cole Hamels trade

The Chicago Cubs may have found a leg up on a potential Cole Hamels trade; including Starlin Castro.

The Philadelphia Phillies have been adamant that they get some near Major League ready talent back in any trade involving staff ace Cole Hamels and that stance has likely held them back from moving the left-hander thus far. However, with a week to go before the non-waiver trade deadline, one MLB team may have figured out a way to make a deal work by including a premium Major League player.

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According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Chicago Cubs are willing to up the ante in order to add the Hamels to their rotation. That may include parting ways with both shortstop Starlin Castro and highly-touted prospect Javier Baez in a potential deal for the Phillies’ ace.

Castro has fallen out of favor in Chicago after going through what appears to be another down season. Through the team’s first 94 games, Castro has appeared in all but two of them. However, he has struggled to the tune of a .239/.272/.310 batting line with three home runs and 40 RBI. However, Castro is still just 25-years-old, is a career .279/.319/.399 hitter, and has averaged 11 home runs and 65 RBI a season over his six-year career.

While the Cubs have him signed through the 2019 season, with an option for 2020, he has become somewhat expendable after the acquisition of Addison Russell last season. Russell has been no wunderkind during his first MLB season either, slashing .237/.310/.359, but he brings with him a premium glove and is the shortstop of the future in Chicago.

Baez entered the 2014 season ranked as the game’s #5 prospect (per Baseball America) and saw some action at the Major League level last year. In 52 games with the Cubs last season, he struggled a bit with pitch recognition, striking out 95 times in just 229 plate appearances en route to a .169/.227/.324 batting line. That did come with nine home runs and 20 RBI, showing the power that many expect from the 22-year-old down the road. He’s spent all of this season back in the minor leagues, where he’s dealt with some injuries, but has still managed to hit .315/.385/.531 with eight home runs and 30 RBI while primarily stationed at Triple-A Iowa.

For the Cubs, the trade makes complete sense, allowing the team to utilize some of its riches while not weakening the team drastically. It also acquires a qualified starter to pair with Jon Lester for the next several seasons atop the Chicago rotation. With the Lester deal, the Cubs have shown they are willing to invest in a quality arm at an advanced age if it helps them win in the near future. An investment of this sorts into Hamels plays along the same principle.

Whether or not the pair of Castro and Baez are enough to land Hamels, we’ll have to see how close to the vest Ruben Amaro plays it. Both bring with them team control and youth, something that the Phillies lack. Additionally, the change of scenery may do Castro well, giving the Phillies a three-time All-Star in the middle infield. Of course, the Phillies would also like to add a pitcher in the deal, but the Cubs may be hesitant to include either Pierce Johnson or Duane Underwood and they certainly won’t part with Carl Edwards Jr.

So the cat and mouse game may continue for the Phillies, either hoping they can get a better offer from the likes of the Rangers, Red Sox, or Dodgers, or hoping that this deal is still here when they come back around.

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