MLB Trade Rumors: Cole Hamels could be moved before All-Star break
The struggling Texas Rangers could look to move Cole Hamels very quickly, and a deal could be done before the All-Star break.
Trades at the deadline can come together quickly, like last year when J.D. Martinez went to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Jose Quintana went to the Chicago Cubs, both out of nowhere and several weeks before the July 31 deadline. This year’s trade deadline window has only seen minor moves, but a blockbuster could be in the works as the Texas Rangers are getting closer to pulling the trigger on a Cole Hamels trade.
According to Jon Morosi of Yahoo! Sports, the Rangers are shopping Hamels and could see a deal come together before the All-Star Game, which is scheduled for July 17 this year. The Seattle Mariners are one of the teams that has engaged the Rangers in early trade talks, but a deal is not imminent.
The Rangers are in last place in the AL West, and their playoff hopes are all but dead. At this point, starting to peel off veteran contracts in an effort to get younger makes sense. Hamels continues to pitch effectively, but is making $22.5 million this year and has a club option for 2019 worth $20 million that can be bought out for $6 million. The buyout fee is much higher than average for a player his age.
At 34, Hamels is still delivering solid results for the Rangers and has bounced back from an injury-plagued 2017 season. The left-hander is 4-6 with a 3.61 ERA and is striking out a batter an inning. There are signs of trouble, however. Hamels has yielded a career-high 1.8 home runs per nine and has an ugly 5.22 FIP, which indicates a sharp regression could be coming.
The most likely cause of Hamels’ ugly home-run rate is the launching-pad stadium the Rangers call home. In eight starts on the road this year, Hamels is 3-1 with a 2.05 ERA and has allowed only six home runs in 48.1 innings. He has always been a fly-ball pitcher, and Texas is an awful place to work for pitchers who routinely allow the ball to be hit in the air. Hamels has made 43 starts in Texas and has a 4.40 ERA, making it one of the worst ballparks for him during his All-Star career.
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Hamels can block a trade to 20 teams, but should be willing to work with the Rangers to get something done. He is the best rental starter available, but could force a team to pick up his option for 2020. With a sterling postseason record, it’s probably worth it for most contenders to pick up the option and hope for the best. The Rangers should be able to bring back a solid return when they do pull the trigger on a deal, though they will no doubt bring back far less than they gave up to acquire Hamels from the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015.