MLB Trade Rumors: Both Rangers and Astros vying for Cole Hamels

Thought to be out of the Cole Hamels bidding war, the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros are trying to trade for the lefty ace.

Throughout the summer, the Texas Rangers have been mentioned as a possible destination for Cole Hamels. However, recent reports, including this one by MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, have indicated that Texas doesn’t feel it has the pieces to outbid other parties, including the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. However, as the rumor mills continue to churn, so do the fortunes of the Texas Rangers, who may not yet be out on Hamels.

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According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, the Texas Rangers are still very much involved in the bidding process and may represent a “best-case scenario” for the Phillies. Per Grant, that may be due to another A.L. West team in on the bidding; the Houston Astros.

Both Houston and Texas have been prime players in the pitching market this summer and both are looking for definitive upgrades. However, both could be looking at a Hamels acquisition from much different angles.

For the Rangers, they are clinging to dear life on the West, currently sitting nine games behind the Los Angeles Angels for the division lead and are seven games behind the Astros for the second Wild Card spot. That’s a steep climb back into the race, especially with five other teams to leapfrog. With that in mind, the Rangers may be looking at Hamels not for this year, but as a rotation fixture for the next several seasons.

Hamels is under contract through the 2018 season at an annual rate of $23.5 million and has a vesting option worth $20 million for the 2019 season, when he turns 35-years-old. That’s a big chunk of change to bite off, especially for the Rangers, who have $143.71 million on the books for 2015 according to Spotrac.

Additionally, Hamels isn’t expected to come cheaply in terms of return package either. Of the potential pitchers on the trade market, Hamels is one of just a few that has any semblance of team control, albeit at a rather high dollar figure. The Phillies are said to be looking for premium prospects in return, with Grant noting that outfielder Nomar Mazara and catcher Jorge Alfaro could be the leading contenders to go back for Hamels. I’d also anticipate Philadelphia interest in right-handers Jake Thompson and Alex Gonzalez, and it wouldn’t be outside of Ruben Amaro’s character to also ask about Joey Gallo, who is a non-starter in any trade talks.

On the other side of the coin we have the Houston Astros. Houston has surprised many by being in first place for much of the year, but find themselves two games out of first entering play on Tuesday night. The Astros have the second lowest team salary in baseball, ahead of only the Miami Marlins, giving Houston ample room to take on a contract like Hamels. Additionally, they have an ample supply of youngsters that will peak Philly’s interest. Houston will not include right-hander Mark Appel in any deal, but other top prospects like outfielders Domingo Santana and Brett Phillips, pitchers Vincent Velasquez (recently promoted) and Michael Feliz, or even potentially first baseman A.J. Reed could all be featured in a deal for Hamels.

Having both teams in the bidding may help the Phillies get a better value in return for Cole Hamels, especially after news of David Price potentially hitting the market taking some suitors off the board. The newly minted in-state rivalry certainly won’t hurt matter either. Instinct would say that Houston stands to gain more from picking up Hamels than does Texas, but they both will need to outbid the Los Angeles Dodgers in order to make a deal happen.

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Thought to be out of the Cole Hamels bidding war, the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros are trying to trade for the lefty ace.

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