Cole Hamels has been Major League Baseball’s most talked-about trade chip in recent months, and it sounds like trade talks are heating up again.
FOX Sports MLB reporter Jon Morosi reported Tuesday that the Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers are having “ongoing dialogue” about a trade involving the left-hander. Morosi, who cited sources, added that Hamels would be willing to waive his no-trade clause in a deal sending him to Texas.
It’s unclear at this point what sort of package the Rangers would offer in a deal for Hamels, but he won’t come cheap. Despite a mediocre 5-5 record, Hamels has been the lone bright spot in an otherwise miserable season for the Phillies. He has been able to post a .500 record in spite of how bad the Phillies are, with a 2.96 ERA, 131 ERA+ and 103 strikeouts in 94 1/3 innings over 14 starts.
Acquiring Hamels also means securing the southpaw for the long term. Hamels is signed through 2018, with a $20 million option for 2019. If that option is picked up, Hamels would be owed $90.5 million over the duration of the deal, in addition to the balance of what he’s owed on his $23.5 million salary this season.
The Rangers entered play Tuesday with a 37-33 record, three games behind the Houston Astros in the American League West.
Thumbnail photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
