MLB Trade Rumors: Cole Hamels Would Make the Detroit Tigers World Series Locks

The Detroit Tigers have grossly underachieved so far this season, but acquiring Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels would instantly make them World Series locks.

The Tigers are currently 39-41, just 3.5 games out of first place in the AL Central. The Chicago White Sox have proven to be formidable competition, but the Tigers have the potential to be one of the best teams in the American League.

Throw in Cole Hamels and they have the potential to be one of the best teams in baseball.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com has reported that the Phillies have began to gauge the market for their left-handed ace. As a result, Josh Slagter of mlive.com opines that the Tigers would be wise to dangle third base prospect Nick Castellanos in order to acquire Hamels' services.

Castellanos will be without a spot in Detroit for as long as Miguel Cabrera is capable of handling third base duties, and it's unknown whether or not a position change is in the works for the young prospect.

Castellanos is also hitting the cover off the ball in the minors this season. Between Single-A Lakeland and Double-A Erie, he's batting .373 with six home runs and 44 RBI.

It's likely that the Phillies would be asking for a third base prospect as a part of the return for Hamels, and Castellanos would easily be one of the top options if made available.

If Castellanos and several other players were shipped to Philadelphia to acquire Hamels, the Tigers would instantly be propelled to the top of the league.

They already possess the top right-handed pitcher in baseball in Justin Verlander. Hamels, arguably one of the top left-handers in the game, would give the Tigers an absolutely dominant one-two punch.

In a short playoff series, being able to throw Verlander and Hamels back-to-back would give the Tigers an instant advantage. In a seven-game series, throwing Verlander twice and Hamels once would be just unfair for the opposition.

Before Hamels even helps the Tigers in the postseason, though, he'll have to help get them there.

That shouldn't be a problem for Hamels as long as he keeps pitching like he has thus far in 2012. Through 16 starts, he owns a 3.08 ERA and a 10-4 record through 111 innings pitched. He has struck out 111 batters with only 28 walks.

Now, back to the postseason.

In his career in the playoffs, Hamels owns a 7-4 record to go along with a 3.04 ERA over 13 starts. He was also the NL Championship Series and World Series MVP in 2008.

That's dominant.

His postseason experience and success would be a lethal addition to the Tigers' rotation. If Detroit can pull off a deal for Hamels, look for them to be playing well into October.