Fansided

Cole Hamels trade rumors: 5 best fits

By Brad Berreman

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 11: Cole Hamels #35 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on May 11, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 11: Cole Hamels #35 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on May 11, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy/Getty Images /

1. St. Louis Cardinals

Through the first month and a half of the season, there may be no more injury-riddled team in major league baseball than the Cardinals. Focusing strictly on the starting rotation, Carlos Martinez (right lat) and Adam Wainwright (elbow) are out right now, with Wainwright out until at least the All-Star break.

But through it all, the Cardinals are hanging tough right now, as they typically do, with a 23-18 record that had them two games back in the NL Central entering Friday. A 3.07 starters’ ERA thus far (entering Friday’s action) doesn’t scream of an urgent need for St. Louis, but as their organizational pitching depth gets tested over and over, Hamels would stand as a reliable, proven option for the starting rotation. The Cardinals’ bullpen has also been hit by some injuries, so any innings eater would take some burden away there.

Next: Check out the latest FanSided.com MLB mock draft

The Cardinals are also among the nine teams Hamels can’t block a deal to. Not that he would )or should) even want to prevent the move, as long as St. Louis stays in the playoff race over the next 6-8 weeks or so. And if they don’t stay in the race, they probably won’t be trying to make a deal for Hamels anyway.

Home/MLB Trade Rumors