Cole Hamels trade rumors: 5 best fits

2. Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona has the second-best ERA in baseball right now (3.31), led by staff ace Patrick Corbin (2.53 ERA, 11.8 K/9) and a deep bullpen. Zack Greinke has been just fine (3.46), and Robbie Ray (shoulder) is starting to progress toward a return to action, but the Diamondbacks have a void to fill in the middle of their starting rotation.

Taijuan Walker is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in mid-April, and the remnants of Kris Medlen proved to not be an answer in his one start for the Diamondbacks early this month (seven runs allowed on nine hits over four innings). Shelby Miller may return from his own Tommy John surgery at some point, but he can’t also can’t really be counted on as a consistent option to replace Walker. The recently signed and promoted Clay Buchholz is also not an answer.

With the Dodgers perhaps reeling to a point of no return already, the Diamondbacks have a pretty good opportunity in front of them to win the NL West this year. Adding Hamels as a No. 2 or No. 3-caliber starter would help that cause greatly.