Astros should sign this player to replace Forrest Whitley’s production

With Forrest Whitley set to undergo Tommy John Surgery, the Astros need to pick up the phone and try to sign veteran hurler Cole Hamels. 

Some rough, but expected news has arrived for the Houston Astros on Thursday. Unfortunately, it’s been confirmed that top pitching prospect Forrest Whitley will indeed need to undergo Tommy John Surgery. With this, he’ll obviously miss the 2021 campaign.

With the Astros now in need of a pitcher to step in and help vill that big void, one player in particular out in free agency stands out as a name the front office must contact immediately: Cole Hamels.

The Houston Astros should pick up the phone and offer Cole Hamels a contract immeditely

A veteran in the bigs, Hamels is currently sitting at home waiting to get a call from a big league club. Why not the Astros? Hamels is a proven hurler in this league and has plenty of experience. Ever since arriving to the majors in 2006, he’s made 422 career starts. In that time, he’s posted a  163-122 record with a 3.43 ERA.

Last season, Hamels signed a one-year deal with the Braves. However the lefty was only able to make one start and missed almost the entire season with a shoulder injury. Things just didn’t pan out for him with Atlanta the way he was hoping they would. The season before, Hamels went 7-7 with the Chicago Cubs and posted a 3.81 ERA.

For the Astros, they could go out and sign Hamels to a low-risk, high-reward one-year deal. He wouldn’t be brought in to be the ace of the staff, but could take the bump every five games and make a real difference for the club. Hamels to the Astros just makes too much sense for the two sides.