Boston Red Sox: Assembling a Fair Trade Package for Cole Hamels

Cole Hamels has been a great middle-of-the-rotation starter over his career with the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Boston Red Sox need to make a splash this offseason or before the trade deadline in order to keep up with the New York Yankees, and adding Hamels would be a smart move.

In 2011, Hamels had one of the best years of his MLB career by going 14-9 with a 2.79 ERA in 32 games for the Phillies.

Over his career, Hamels has won more than half of his decisions, 74-54, and his career ERA, 3.39, makes him one of the best lefties in baseball.

At the moment, he has one year left on his contract and the Red Sox could definitely use him to solidify their rotation.

The Red Sox can't afford to give up any pitchers already on their staff, but offering a top-level hitting and pitching prospect may get the deal done.

Who knows, maybe the Phillies would even help pay some of Hamels' contract.

The Red Sox would need to include at least Brandon Jacobs. Jacobs is one of those players who is a 20/20 guy in the future with his speed and power flashing in his minor-league play. He may strikeout a lot, but he is an outfielder who could help the Phillies/Red Sox in the future.

Another prospect that the Sox should include is Anthony Ranaudo. He has had trouble with his command, but also has shown dominant performances in some starts.

This deal won't get done unless Hamels agrees to sign for multiple years after his contract runs out after the 2012 season. If Hamels wants to be with the Sox, then he needs to be here for three or more seasons. The Sox are in win now mode and adding Hamels would be a smart decision to make.

What would be a fair trade in order to get Hamels from the Phillies, though?

In all likelihood, Philadelphia would ask for an arm and a leg for their young ace. Any counteroffer would begin with top 3B prospect Will Middlebrooks, a player Boston has been reluctant to part with in previous trade discussions.

The Phillies would have to weigh the possibility of losing Cole Hamels for nothing after the year against the desire to go for it all in 2012 and worry about the consequences later. It is a dilemma that often faces top contenders with impending free agents, and will likely result in Hamels sticking in Citizen's Bank Park beyond the July 31st deadline.

If Boston were ever to pry him from Ruben Amaro's cold, dead fingers, it would be for a monstrous package centered around Middlebrooks, Renaudo and one of Jacobs or Blake Swihart.

The overall odds of a deal are slim based on Philly's unrelenting chase for a World Series title, but Boston has the chips to make Ruben Amaro think long and hard about a deal if extension talks fall apart.