MLB Trade Rumors: Latest on Cole Hamels, Jonathan Papelbon, More Potential Moves
Spring training is finally upon us. Pitchers and catchers are gallivanting their way to Arizona and Florida as we speak, which will soon spark the beginning of actual games and cooling of the hot stove madness that has engulfed most of the winter.
Of course, none of that has happened quite yet. Player arrivals are just that—arrivals. Until the actual games begin and young stars begin establishing themselves on the spring training stage, the only hot stove distraction we have is the ongoing melodrama with Alex Rodriguez. And I don't know about you, but I'd rather talk about Cole Hamels' eventual departure from Philadelphia for the 800th time than A-Rod for the eight millionth.
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So with that in mind, I figured now's as good a time as any to survey the MLB landscape and check in on the latest rumors still making the rounds. Most of these you've heard a time or six before, and it's unlikely any of the remaining burning coals will get stoked in the near future.
On the other hand, it's not A-Rod. I think we can all be thankful for that.
Hamels Ready for Trade, No "Acceptable" Offers on the Table
Cole Hamels will not be a Phillie come July 31. I have a better chance of being the starting shortstop for the Yankees, and I barely hit .250 last season in my fastpitch softball league. Hamels has been on the trade market all winter—you could even go back to last July if you wanted—and a formal list of suitors appears to have formed.
The Red Sox, Dodgers, Padres and Yankees are the four most likely suitors, though it's least likely Hamels and I wind up in pinstripes together (meaning the Yankees aren't exactly doggedly pursuing either of us).
As for Hamels? He just wants to win.
"In the grand scheme of things,'' Hamels said, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. "We have a very small window in our lives. You understand this is going to end. The Phillies will go on forever, but we know our careers are going to end. And I want to go to a place where I can win again. It's not like I'm a hired gun. I've got four or five years left on my contract. I want to help that team win just like I did here.''
Hamels, 31, went 9-9 with a 2.46 ERA and 1.15 WHIP last season. He has four years and $96 million remaining on his contract, with a potential fifth year at $20 million sitting as a team option. Having made at least 30 starts in each of the last seven years, Hamels' lack of injury history makes him an attractive option despite the enormous contract.
Knowing this, the Phillies haven't been in any rush to dump him off at a discount. Nightengale's report indicates Philadelphia's front office has very specific prospects in mind from each team and won't budge until its demands are met.
Boston catching prospect Blake Swihart is the apple of general manager Ruben Amaro's eye, and the Phils have also taken a liking to Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez. Boston and St. Louis have yet to add either player to the mix. Neither the Dodgers nor the Padres have made their top prospects available in offers yet, either.
So, for now, we wait. An injury will force one of these teams' hands—or the Phillies will just get trigger happy and make a move. Whatever. We'll see.
Phillies Still Hope to Move Papelbon
Speaking of Phillies the Phillies hoped would no longer be Phillies come spring training, here is an update on closer Jonathan Papelbon. The veteran righty has been a regular fixture on the block for some time now, with his onerous salary and decreasing velocity scaring teams off.
With only 34 appearances in 2015, Papelbon will vest his option for the 2016 season at $13 million. Combine that with the matching salary he's owed for this season, and teams have been understandably wary of paying $26 million for a 34-year-old reliever. Papelbon remains one of the most effective and consistent closers in baseball, even turning in his best season in Philadelphia a year ago.
That said, his fastball velocity has dropped more than two miles per hour since 2012, per Brooks Baseball data. The last two seasons have seen Papelbon strike out less than one batter per inning for the first time in his career, a concerning sign given MLB's rising strikeout rates and the league-wide increased emphasis on high-velocity closers.
With the Phillies looking for real assets in exchange and trying to avoid eating a majority of the money left on the deal, it's been a difficult sell. Ben Cafardo of the Boston Globe reported, though, that the front office is still optimistic a deal can be reached.
The Brewers, who at a time looked like an overwhelming favorite to land Papelbon, have balked at the Phillies' asking price. The Dodgers are in the market for a stopgap closer with Kenley Jansen out for at least the next two months, but they have in-house options, and Papelbon might not be open to a setup role when Jansen returns.
As is the case with Hamels, the Phillies' best option here is to sit and wait for an injury or a contender getting off to a slow start. Closers are such fungible commodities outside the very best that it shouldn't be far into April before an expected contender starts wringing its hands about its shaky ninth-inning guy. Then the Phillies can swoop in with Mr. Reliable.
Other Notes
Mets Not Looking to Trade Gee, Other Pitchers
The Mets, long battling for national respect, have a good problem: They have a bunch of solid young arms looking for innings. Matt Harvey is readying a return from Tommy John surgery, Jacob deGrom broke out in 2014, Zack Wheeler is ready to shine and on down the line. Add in Bartolo Colon, Dillon Gee, etc. and how the Mets were looking to add a bat by ridding themselves of their rotational logjam.
Plans have apparently changed. Marc Carig of Newsday reported New York is no longer actively seeking out trades for its starters. Instead, it'll wait for an injury or hold firm going into the regular season.
Jays Not Looking to Deal Dioner Navarro
Adding Russell Martin this winter, while improving their catching position, has put the Blue Jays in a bit of a pickle. Incumbent starter Dioner Navarro had perhaps his finest MLB season in 2014, hitting .274/.317/.395 with 12 home runs and 69 RBI.
He's also now without a full-time starting job. The Jays are expected to use him regularly at designated hitter to start the season, but it'll be interesting to see how long that lasts. Navarro's production is good for a catcher; it's much closer to average or even below that mark for an offense-only position like DH. Navarro will spell Martin on occasion and cede his spot to more valuable players in need of a rest, which led to some speculation he could be available.
Nah. Blue Jays play-by-play announcer Mike Wilner has reported the team "never" discussed trading Navarro.
Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.
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