If the Chicago Cubs strike out in their pursuit of adding a free agent pitcher or two this offseason, could they make a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies and acquire Cole Hamels?
The Philadelphia Phillies find themselves in a tough position with Cole Hamels and may be forced to trade him to expedite the club’s rebuilding efforts and the potential trade could be to the team who has been in a perpetual state of rebuilding for the last century, the Chicago Cubs.
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According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Cubs are on the list of teams that Hamels can be traded without his permission because the team is not on his block-list of nine teams.
The Cubs have a massive need to add an ace to their rotation and could be interested in a trade if they are unable to land a starter in free agency where the likes of Max Scherzer, Jon Lester and James Shields headline the group of front-line starters who could be had without giving up two-three elite prospects.
Cubs are not on the updated list of teams to which Hamels can be traded without his permission. If NL is Hamels's preference, CHC an option.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 10, 2014
To be clear: Cole Hamels can be traded to the Cubs without his permission, because the CHC are not on his block-list of 9 teams.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 10, 2014
Chicago is loaded with position players, especially at shortstop with Addison Russell and Javier Baez, and particularly thin in the minor leagues with pitching prospects so the team’s desire to add a starter of Hamel’s quality cannot be understated. However, would the Cubs want to part with multiple front-line prospects to add Hamels who has four years and $90 million owed to him?
The 30-year-old lefty went 9-9 last year with a 2.46 ERA last year after going 8-14 with a 3.60 ERA in 2013.
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