By: Ryan Bode
With the Phillies looking to rebuild their farm system, Cole Hamels is another piece that can be moved for some prospects.
Unlike Papelbon, Hamels can provide more for a team. He can become the ace of any staff as soon as he arrives. He has proven time and time again that he can handle the pressure of all the attention an Ace receives. For example, he won the World Series MVP along with the NLCS MVP in 2008 when the Phillies won the World Series.
Hamels is known as a groundball pitcher that has one of the best changeups in the game. His primary pitches that he relies on to get out of jams is a four-seam fastball that averages in the low 90’s interchanged with his “devastating” change-up (averages 85 mph) according to Chipper Jones, all-time great former third baseman for the Atlanta Braves. He also uses a sinker, cutter and curveball with his curveball being the worse pitch in his repertoire. His curveball is sometimes is loopy and sometimes is sharp and averages in the mid 70’s, making it the easiest pitch to hit. His cutter is also one of his pitches that he likes to use to get people out. In 2011, one year after he debuted his cutter, his groundball rate was over 50 percent (according to Bill Baer of Crashburn Alley).
Cole Hamels is 31 years-old and looks like he is going to lose his velocity going into the future. Hamels is having another good year, posting a 5-5 record with a 2.96 ERA and over 100 strikeouts already. His WHIP is at an all-time low in three years as well, proving that he is still fooling hitters. This is a primetime for the Phillies to sell for the highest price. Here are some teams that are willing to give up their top prospects for Hamels service.
The Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore is still in the thick of the race for the AL East. They are two games back of the leading Tampa Bay Rays and one game back of the New York Yankees in second place. Mike Wright and Miguel Gonzalez are battling injuries right now for the Orioles, making the fifth spot of the rotation up for grabs. Cole Hamels would fit perfectly into the rotation, controlling the game for the Orioles. He would lower the team ERA along with providing someone that the young pitchers can look up to (the average age is 28.6 years old). Hamels would get back to the AL and return his focus to pitching, which could lead to more innings pitched.
The New York Yankees
Another AL East team is looking for the services of Hamels. One of the reasons that so many teams have shied away from making a deal with the Phillies is that they are asking a team to take on the majority of Hamels remaining 88.55 million dollar salary. The Yankees are never afraid of spending money or purging their farm system for another run at the World Series. Most likely he would take over for Adam Warren, whose ERA is just under 4.00 with only 43 strikeouts this year. He would provide a massive improvement into a rotation that is primed for a resurgence going into the rest of the season with Pineda, Tanaka, Eovaldi, Nova (currently on DL), and even with a shadow of his former self Sabathia.
St. Louis Cardinals
This is the best place for Hamels to fit right in. The Cardinals lost their ace Wainwright early in the season to a left Achilles tear, so he could slide right in and fill that hole. In addition, he would be joining an already World Series favorite team. Michael Wacha has shined for the Cardinals, going 9-2 with 2.48 ERA with a WHIP hovering around 1.07. John Lackey, Lance Lynn, and Carlos Martinez all have been solid for the Cardinals as well, and with Cole Hamels this rotation could possibly be the best in the National League.
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