These Teams Give Cole Hamels a Chance to Win Now

Cole Hamels has spoken.

And while he is demanding nothing, he made it unequivocally clear that he wants to win, that winning cannot and will not happen in Philadelphia and that he would like to be traded to a team with a chance to do that.

Speaking to the media for the first time since last season, Hamels told all of this to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Really, who can blame him for feeling this way?

“I just want to win,” Hamels said. “That's all. That's all any competitor wants.

“And I know it's not going to happen here.

“This isn't what I expected. It's not what the Phillies expected, either.

“But it's reality."

Hamels was careful to praise the only organization he has ever known, the Phillies, and the city where they play. But he also understands that general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. so botched the franchise’s rebuild—not Hamels’ words, by the way—that the Phillies absolutely will not win in 2015, and that it could be difficult for the team to win for the duration of his six-year, $144 million contract signed in 2012.

Including this summer, there are four guaranteed years remaining on the deal at $96 million, which includes a $6 million buyout. There is also a club option for $20 million that would take the contract to five years and $110 million.

About a month ago, once it became fairly clear Hamels would be traded only if a suitor became desperate and caved to Amaro’s demands, the GM made his thoughts about Opening Day clear to Jake Kaplan of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“I think Cole Hamels is going to be in our uniform, frankly,” Amaro said. “I don’t really foresee him being moved.”

However, now that Hamels has made it clear he wants to win and that it won’t happen in Philadelphia, maybe the Phillies will be more willing to appease their ace. The question now is what team will pay the high asking price.

Boston Red Sox

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Despite being on Hamels’ updated no-trade list, which happens to be 20 teams deep, the Red Sox are the team likeliest to meet Amaro’s trade demands. 

There are two reasons for this: First, while the Red Sox have built a deep lineup, they have not built a championship-caliber rotation. In fact, they don’t even have a proven No. 1 starter. Adding Hamels to the quintet would legitimize Boston as a World Series contender and make it the favorite in the American League East.

Second, Boston has the prospects to move, although, according to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, the Red Sox made Philadelphia an offer heavy on major league players because they do not want to give up young talent or prospects such as Mookie Betts, Henry Owens or Blake Swihart, a catching prospect Bob Nightengale targeted as the Phillies demanding in any package.

But the Red Sox do have the young talent to land Hamels if they are willing to part. While this deal is not likely to happen before the season, minds could change if Boston’s current rotation does not perform during the first part of the season. This is made more realistic because Hamels is not a rental. He would be a cornerstone for the rotation for the next four years, at least.

Hamels is also open to the Red Sox even if they are on his no-trade list.

“Of course, I would,” Hamels told Nightengale. “It's a fun city. There's no better feeling than to have a chance to win every year, and they give you that chance.

“I'm all ears.”

San Diego Padres

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Seriously, why not? The Padres’ general manager, A.J. Preller, has shown a knack for striking when opportunities present themselves, and Hamels’ comments about wanting to win might be that next opportunity. 

We know the Padres have already shown interest in Hamels, but that was before signing James Shields. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported Preller made “an aggressive offer” for Hamels, but it seems San Diego has to offer more than prospects Hunter Renfroe and Austin Hedges, according to Nightengale.

That could mean the inclusion of right-handed prospect Matt Wisler or shortstop Trea Turner, the organization’s top two prospects as rated by Baseball America. It is doubtful the Phillies would want Andrew Cashner in return with only two controllable years.

If the Padres included more top-tier prospects, they might be able to get the Phillies to kick in some salary relief for Hamels. That could help keep this year’s payroll close to $105 million, which is their “soft cap,” according to U-T San Diego’s Jeff Sanders.

During this offseason, Preller has been called everything from swashbuckler to gunslinger to rock star. Pulling off a deal for Hamels, and turning the Padres into a serious World Series contender at the same time, would further cement those monikers.

St. Louis Cardinals

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The Cardinals are going into spring training with plenty of legitimate questions and concerns about all five of their rotation candidates as well as their backup options. Plus, they traded away depth in Joe Kelly and Shelby Miller to land John Lackey and Jason Heyward, respectively. 

The Cardinals, who can trade for Hamels without his consent mainly because his wife is from the St. Louis area, would have to give up young, potentially front-line arms in Carlos Martinez and/or Marco Gonzales. Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi also report a deal might require an outfield prospect like Randal Grichuk or Stephen Piscotty, plus maybe Peter Bourjos.

The price is steep, certainly. But Grichuk is 23 and hasn’t lit up the minors beyond the low levels, and Piscotty is 24 and the Cardinals still did not think enough of him to give him a chance to win the job in right field this spring. So neither guy should be untouchable.

Hamels would make the Cardinals an overwhelming favorite in the National League Central, and a serious World Series threat. But he would also cost them more young pitching, and for an organization never keen on spending big in free agency, it would take a drastic situation for it to pull the trigger on a Hamels deal.

Chicago Cubs

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The Cubs’ desire for Hamels has never been a secret, as they claimed him on waivers last August and showed interest this offseason, and they certainly have young talent to deal from, as they have the top farm system as ranked by Baseball America and ESPN. 

The Phillies certainly would ask the Cubs for shortstop prospect Addison Russell, the fifth overall prospect as MLB.com sees him. It might also cost them someone like Jorge Soler or Javier Baez, the organization’s top prospect at this time last year.

That price is massive, maybe more than any other team would have to give up. And obviously more than the Cubs are willing to part with, for now.

However, maybe it’s not so crazy. Current Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro will be 25 on Opening Day and won’t be a free agent until after the 2020 season if the club does not pick up his option. That means they are set at the position for a while, as Castro is coming off of his best offensive season in the majors. That could make parting with Baez or Russell more palatable.

Then again, the Cubs are willing to spend money and may be waiting for next offseason to sign someone like David Price or Jordan Zimmermann without giving up any of their youngsters. At this point, that sounds like the more appealing play.

Los Angeles Dodgers

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Let’s include the Boys in Blue on this list just because they seem to be one of the teams always mentioned when it comes to what teams have shown interest in Hamels. But that interest has never been serious, as the club has never even discussed its top prospects in a package for the lefty ace. 

Joc Pederson, Corey Seager, Julio Urias and Grant Holmes are considered the organization’s top four prospects, but as of now, it is unwilling to discuss any of them.

This makes total sense since the Dodgers, like the Cubs, are willing to spend money on major league talent. That means the team could become heavily invested in a free-agent pitcher like David Price or Jordan Zimmermann next offseason, especially if Zack Greinke opts out of his current contract.

The Dodgers have done their due diligence on Hamels, but nothing more is likely to come out of that homework.