Cole Hamels Traded to Rangers

[jersey cubs fan]

I can't see a fit.

 

Anything the Phillies would accept is too much when you can just go get Lester for the same contract plus a year or two.

 

Philadelphia needs to offer to eat most of the contract and ship him off to a small-market team with ambition but no cash.

 

 

This is why it makes little sense. It's not a good match.

 

Given our current situation and our abundance of available payroll, it's a last resort, at best.

 

The abundance of available payroll actually makes it quite possible to sign one and trade for one and possibly throw out a dominating rotation without missing a beat on the offense that would still be full of kids ready to step-in.

[rawaction]

Everyone keeps saying, "we can just get Lester for money, without giving up prospects". But nobody is taking into account the fact that the Cubs aren't in any way guaranteed to get Lester.

 

Sure, if you don't get Lester you can move on to a trade for Hamels. But there goes your leverage too.

[UK1679666180]

Everyone keeps saying, "we can just get Lester for money, without giving up prospects". But nobody is taking into account the fact that the Cubs aren't in any way guaranteed to get Lester.

 

Sure, if you don't get Lester you can move on to a trade for Hamels. But there goes your leverage too.

 

Exactly, everyone thinks it's a foregone conclusion that they will get him.

[Guest]

Everyone keeps saying, "we can just get Lester for money, without giving up prospects". But nobody is taking into account the fact that the Cubs aren't in any way guaranteed to get Lester.

 

Sure, if you don't get Lester you can move on to a trade for Hamels. But there goes your leverage too.

 

It's not just Lester. It ultimately comes down to money the vast majority of the time. You'd rather give up the Hamels money plus a couple years plus however much more it realistically ("realistically" as in, it's not going to take another $15-20M a year) takes to sign one of the free agent guys than pay the Hamels money and meet Amaro's asking price. Given what we've heard, unless and until that comes down significantly, I don't see how it makes sense. Those prospects have really significant monetary value.

[Guest]

I think this trade will get done. It makes too much sense.

 

It makes the opposite of sense.

You are getting too loose with your budding quippery.

[Guest]

Everyone keeps saying, "we can just get Lester for money, without giving up prospects". But nobody is taking into account the fact that the Cubs aren't in any way guaranteed to get Lester.

 

Sure, if you don't get Lester you can move on to a trade for Hamels. But there goes your leverage too.

 

Not really the point. I'm sure the Mariners would consider trading us Felix if we sent Rizzo, Arrieta, and Russell and then we'd have a bird in the hand just like with trading for Hamels. Doesn't mean it's a good idea. As far as we can tell, Hamels' monetary plus player cost far outstrips what Lester is projected to receive, and there are other pitchers in MLB besides Hamels and Lester too. Don't want to risk losing Lester? Cool, make a trade for a pitcher, there's at least a couple good ones out there every year that get moved. Still not an excuse to pay through the nose for Hamels just because Amaro is especially bad at his job and make the Cubs a poor fit.

[Guest]

The same people saying don't trade for Hamels are the same people saying that "there are other teams with money to spend."

[jersey cubs fan]

Everyone keeps saying, "we can just get Lester for money, without giving up prospects". But nobody is taking into account the fact that the Cubs aren't in any way guaranteed to get Lester.

 

Sure, if you don't get Lester you can move on to a trade for Hamels. But there goes your leverage too.

 

Not really the point. I'm sure the Mariners would consider trading us Felix if we sent Rizzo, Arrieta, and Russell and then we'd have a bird in the hand just like with trading for Hamels. Doesn't mean it's a good idea.

 

Not sure how you can go from saying "not really the point" and then bringing up a much worse point.

[rawaction]

Everyone keeps saying, "we can just get Lester for money, without giving up prospects". But nobody is taking into account the fact that the Cubs aren't in any way guaranteed to get Lester.

 

Sure, if you don't get Lester you can move on to a trade for Hamels. But there goes your leverage too.

 

Not really the point. I'm sure the Mariners would consider trading us Felix if we sent Rizzo, Arrieta, and Russell and then we'd have a bird in the hand just like with trading for Hamels. Doesn't mean it's a good idea. As far as we can tell, Hamels' monetary plus player cost far outstrips what Lester is projected to receive, and there are other pitchers in MLB besides Hamels and Lester too. Don't want to risk losing Lester? Cool, make a trade for a pitcher, there's at least a couple good ones out there every year that get moved. Still not an excuse to pay through the nose for Hamels just because Amaro is especially bad at his job and make the Cubs a poor fit.

 

I didn't say it was a good idea. I'm just saying that dismissing Hamels because "oh we can get Lester" doesn't make sense to argue. And I know there are more pitchers than those 2, but they've been the 2 compared because both are LH, similar aged pitchers, who would conceivably be signed for similar contracts.

 

It seems like more people hate the Hamels idea because the Cubs could still get Lester, than hate the Hamels idea because the Phils will want more than the Cubs should be willing to give up.

[Guest]

Hamels is a hell of a pitcher signed to a reasonable contract that doesn't take him past the age of 35. He is a really valuable player and fits this team as he would any team.

[Guest]

Hamels is a hell of a pitcher signed to a reasonable contract that doesn't take him past the age of 35. He is a really valuable player and fits this team as he would any team.

Go for both, get both and let's win a pennant.

[RynoRules]

I'd do Javier Baez, Hendricks, and Vogelbach to get Cole (I doubt that Philly would, but I would.). Then I'd sign Lester and start printing WS tickets.

[Guest]

I'd do Javier Baez, Hendricks, and Vogelbach to get Cole (I doubt that Philly would, but I would.). Then I'd sign Lester and start printing WS tickets.

 

Ugh UGH UGH

[sneakypower]

replace Hendricks with any other pitching prospect and that probably wouldn't anger me

[Cubswin11]

I'd do Javier Baez, Hendricks, and Vogelbach to get Cole (I doubt that Philly would, but I would.). Then I'd sign Lester and start printing WS tickets.

Uh, you think Philly would say no to that? I think that's pretty good, if not better than fair, compensation for him. Especially if we are taking back his entire salary.

[mul21]

replace Hendricks with any other pitching prospect besides CJ and that probably wouldn't anger me

 

I can get on board with this.

[Abe Frohman]

I'd love Cole Hamels too, but why give up prospects when you can give up money and make a run for the plethora of available talent like Jon Lester, James Sheilds, Brandon McCarthy, and Max Scherzer? Shoot for Lester and Scherzer, and keep the future players. It's money that they have to burn.

 

Offer up Olt, Almora, Wood, or some fringe prospects that the Cubs aren't building around for Hamels (and his salary). Philly needs youth, and the Cubs are rich in prospects that aren't Baez, Russell, or Soler.

Edited November 11, 2014 by Abe Frohman

[rawaction]

replace Hendricks with any other pitching prospect besides CJ and that probably wouldn't anger me

 

I can get on board with this.

 

I'd rather trade CJ than Hendricks. Hell, I'd rather trade any pitcher in the minor leagues before Hendricks. CJ has yet to throw more than 117 innings in a season. Hell, he's yet to throw 100 as a Cub in a year and a half, which includes playoffs and the AFL. And every other pitcher in the system is either not as good as he is or further away, while Hendricks is a key part to the rotation next year. Moving from Hendricks to Hamels is probably a pretty marginal move that doesn't help the Cubs as much as you would think.

[Tyrant]

I'd love Cole Hamels too, but why give up prospects when you can give up money and make a run for the plethora of available talent like Jon Lester, James Sheilds, Brandon McCarthy, and Max Scherzer?

 

Because he's better than two of those guys and would cost less $$$ than the other two.

[mul21]

replace Hendricks with any other pitching prospect besides CJ and that probably wouldn't anger me

 

I can get on board with this.

 

I'd rather trade CJ than Hendricks. Hell, I'd rather trade any pitcher in the minor leagues before Hendricks. CJ has yet to throw more than 117 innings in a season. Hell, he's yet to throw 100 as a Cub in a year and a half, which includes playoffs and the AFL. And every other pitcher in the system is either not as good as he is or further away, while Hendricks is a key part to the rotation next year. Moving from Hendricks to Hamels is probably a pretty marginal move that doesn't help the Cubs as much as you would think.

 

I agree, and for all the reasons you stated. I'm saying any pitching prospect other than those 2.

[jersey cubs fan]

replace Hendricks with any other pitching prospect besides CJ and that probably wouldn't anger me

 

I can get on board with this.

 

I'd rather trade CJ than Hendricks. Hell, I'd rather trade any pitcher in the minor leagues before Hendricks. CJ has yet to throw more than 117 innings in a season. Hell, he's yet to throw 100 as a Cub in a year and a half, which includes playoffs and the AFL. And every other pitcher in the system is either not as good as he is or further away, while Hendricks is a key part to the rotation next year. Moving from Hendricks to Hamels is probably a pretty marginal move that doesn't help the Cubs as much as you would think.

 

I agree, and for all the reasons you stated. I'm saying any pitching prospect other than those 2.

 

CJ is a future reliever. I wouldn't have a problem trading him for an elite guy.

[Guest]

Offer up Olt, Almora, Wood, or some fringe prospects that the Cubs aren't building around for Hamels (and his salary).

 

Why are we even wasting PTR's minutes on this phone call?

[Cubswin11]

I'd love Cole Hamels too, but why give up prospects when you can give up money and make a run for the plethora of available talent like Jon Lester, James Sheilds, Brandon McCarthy, and Max Scherzer? Shoot for Lester and Scherzer, and keep the future players. It's money that they have to burn.

If it's only about money offer to take Hamels and Howard and their entire contracts for like Szczur and Rock Shoulders then waive/buyout Howard.

[jersey cubs fan]

Offer up Olt, Almora, Wood, or some fringe prospects that the Cubs aren't building around for Hamels (and his salary).

 

Why are we even wasting PTR's minutes on this phone call?

wait until the end of the billing cycle and see what you have left.

[Abe Frohman]

I'd love Cole Hamels too, but why give up prospects when you can give up money and make a run for the plethora of available talent like Jon Lester, James Sheilds, Brandon McCarthy, and Max Scherzer?

 

Because he's better than two of those guys and would cost less $$$ than the other two.

 

Are they Cubs going to sign all 4 of those guys?

 

For 22.5 mil per year through 2018, Hamels is a better deal than can be had with any of those guys listed. What do you think the Phillies are going to want for him? I'd say top prospects.