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MLB Trade Rumors: 5 teams that should be all-in on Cole Hamels

By Joshua Sadlock

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) /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JUNE 27: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning at AT&T Park on June 27, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JUNE 27: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning at AT&T Park on June 27, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

4. San Francisco Giants

After a slow start to the year, the San Francisco Giants are very much in the hunt for the NL West title. They are 20-10 since May 29 and have a healthy Madison Bumgarner leading the rotation and a lineup led by Brandon Belt that is beginning to fire on all cylinders. The Giants need to continue pushing all of their chips to the middle of the table in an effort to get back to the playoffs this year.

Offseason moves to acquire Andrew McCutchen and Evan Longoria proved the Giants would not shy away from taking on veteran contracts in an effort to make their club better. They’ll be forced to do the same thing at the trade deadline. San Francisco has a weak farm system, and their only means to push for a deal is a willingness to spend. Money isn’t necessarily an issue for the Rangers, who might prefer to focus on bringing back better prospects when they deal Cole Hamels.

The Giants are in serious need of reinforcements for their starting rotation if they are serious about sticking around in the playoff picture this year. Bumgarner has been dominant since his return, but the rest of the staff is a big question mark. If Johnny Cueto is able to return healthy in July, the Giants should see a boost on the mound, as he was pitching very well before elbow trouble flared up.

A rotation made up of Bumgarner, Derek Holland, Ty Blach, Andrew Suarez and Dereck Rodriguez is unlikely to be able to keep up with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs and the rest of the NL contenders. The Giants need to upgrade their rotation with a proven veteran, but will be hard-pressed to do so given their financial situation.

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