With the MLB trade deadline fast approaching, one player that teams will surely be pursuing is pitcher Cole Hamels.
Currently with the Phillies, Hamels is expected to get offers from multiple teams. That list includes the Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, NY Yankees, LA Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays.
That stands to be quite a list which could be appended and include more heading towards the MLB trade deadline which will be on July 31st.
The Phillies were actually shopping Hamels as early as last year. Though there were no takers at that time, the case may be different heading into July.
While multiple teams are expected to make pitches, the top teams reportedly hot on Hamels trail are the Yankees, Orioles and Red Sox. All teams are looking for pitchers and Hamels stands to be a prized catch.
The Orioles could strike a deal with the Phillies at the trade deadline while the Red Sox, reportedly the frontrunner to potentially land Hamels. However a lot would hinge on who Boston would be giving in return aside from money considerations.
The Phillies are reportedly interested in Mookie Betts or Blake Swihart but the Red Sox are not too keen on parting with both players.
For the Yankees, a lot hinge on how they are dealing with Johnny Cueto. If the Cueto deal fails to materialize, expect New York to make a frenzied run on the 31-year-old pitcher. The team is scrambling to get their hands on a reliable pitcher despite the return of Masahiro Tanaka from sick bay.
Hamels is doing well at the moment, putting up numbers with 2.96 ERA with 103 strikeouts in 94 innings.
Last season, Hamels had a 2.46 ERA his lowest for any season in his career. He has had at least 30 starts since 2007 and has never had any major injuries.
But if given the choice, Hamels is looking to a join a team which he could possibly help get to the World Series.
Hamels has been there before (2008 and 2009) and apparently wants to get that opportunity once again.
"You want to have that opportunity again to really soak it in, you want to be able to do it when you know you are confident that you can actually be at the highest level because sometimes you weren’t necessarily ready. Even though it worked and everything went well, there are years of preparation that really make it even that much more exciting and that much more worth it and I think that’s what it is — when you are able to build up and accomplish a great deal of success, you then want to be able to show it on the biggest stage," Hamel was quoted as saying in an article via the Post.