MLB Rumors: Philadelphia Phillies Must Do What It Takes to Keep Cole Hamels

If you were the Philadelphia Phillies, to what lengths would you go to keep Cole Hamels?

Would you give him a seven-year contract, for example?

Because that’s what it might take, at least according to NBC’s Howard Eskin:

Just reported on Sports Final @NBCPhiladelphia that I’m told cole hamels agent has told Phillies they r looking for “7” year deal.

— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) May 14, 2012

In my opinion, if that’s what it takes to keep him, then that’s what you give him. Here’s why.

 

Hamels is Needed Now

The Phillies aren’t getting any younger, with the core of the team—Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Jonathan Papelbon—mostly over the age of 30.

Only Hunter Pence (29) and Hamels (28) are below 30, and not by much.

The window for this team to win a World Series is shrinking rapidly—some might say that after the team’s slow start, it has already past, though I don’t subscribe to that theory just yet—and losing a pitcher of Hamels caliber would be devastating.

Hamels is on pace to have his finest season to date. He’s 5-1 with a 2.28 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 49 strikeouts and looks like he’ll once again be a viable Cy Young candidate. The Phillies can’t afford to lose that level of production any time soon.

 

Hamels Will Be Needed Later

I know what you’re thinking:

But Tim, giving him a seven-year contract is ridiculous. It will come at such a high price—there’s no way he’ll settle for less than Matt Cain money—and he’ll be 36 when the deal runs out. That’s crazy talk!

But is it really crazy talk?

I don’t think so. I actually think Hamels’ pitching style will remain effective as he ages. He’s a crafty, cerebral pitcher even now, not an overpowering one. His reliance on an excellent change-up along with a solid cutter will compensate for any velocity he loses off his fastball.

It’s risky, I agree. But I also think Hamels will be a very effective pitcher well into his 30s, and the Phillies should keep that in mind as they negotiate a new deal.

 

He’s a Philly Favorite

In 2008, Cole Hamels was the World Series MVP when the team won its first championship since 1980. He came up through the team’s minor league system. He was the best left-handed pitcher this organization had seen since Steve Carlton.

His departure would be an extremely unpopular move with the fans. Philadelphia fans are loyal to their teams, but don’t get it twisted—they will turn on a front office. As amazing a job as general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. has done, a few poor decisions and his popularity will take a plunge quickly.

For the past five years, Philly has gone from being a city traditionally owned by the Philadelphia Eagles to a Phillies town. But if they lose Hamels—and they don’t transition gracefully from this current core of players to the next generation of Phillies—the city will turn primarily green once again.

Eagles green, that is. And all of that green that the Phillies have basically printed in the past five years will become more scarce, too.

If they know what is good for them, they’ll find a way to bring Hamels back, even if the terms are steep. He’s not just a key piece now but also an important part of this organization’s future.

 

Hit me up on Twitter—my tweets never give up in stoppage time.

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Philadelphia Phillies: 25 Consequences If They Miss the 2012 Playoffs

For the last couple of seasons, the attitude towards Philadelphia Phillies baseball has been “World Series or bust.” Anything other than a victory in the Fall Classic is considered a drastic disappointment, so can you imagine what the attitude towards Phillies baseball would be if the club missed the postseason entirely in 2012?

I can. It would be an ugly situation.

There’s no reason the Phillies should be in a position to miss the postseason. No excuses. Sure, they’ve had their share of injuries, but with a payroll just shy of $175 million, this should be a club with depth in multiple positions, and right now, it’s not.

This is a payroll chock-full of former All-Stars failing to live up to their reputations, under-performing veterans, and even a few rookies who have yet to cut their teeth. One thing is certain: They don’t resemble the contender that a lot of pundits picked to win the National League East before Opening Day. 

The Phillies have the talent to turn this ship around, but what if they don’t? If the Phillies fail to make the postseason this year, there will be serious repercussions moving forward, and depending upon their level of failure, things could get ugly for this club before the postseason even comes into focus.

Missing the playoffs could be big trouble for this club. Here’s why.

Follow @Greg_Pinto

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Cole Hamels Beans Bryce Harper: Why Jordan Zimmermann Should Also Be Suspended

Let me just start out by quoting Jim Leyland.  When asked about Hamels’ suspension, the Detroit Tigers manager said, “I think five games is way too light… Personally, if I was making that vote, it would be a 15-game suspension — at least.”  

Really?  

Jim Leyland’s own player, Delmon Young, was arrested in New York for committing a hate crime. Young was only suspended 7 games for committing a HATE CRIME, yet Leyland believes that Cole Hamels should be suspended more than twice as long for hitting a guy right above his butt with a baseball.  

That’s stupid.  You don’t see Leyland arguing that his player should be suspended for longer.  

Anyway, yes I think Cole Hamels was wrong and dumb to hit Bryce Harper and to then own up to it. Even if you did it on purpose (which I still think was unwarranted and uncool, not “old school”), just say the pitch got away from you.  You can tell your teammates you did it on purpose, you can tell your friends you did it on purpose, but telling the media you did it on purpose is just stupid.

As anyone who was watching the game knows, Jordan Zimmermann then hit Cole Hamels with a pitch when it was Hamels’ turn to bat.  

Jordan Zimmermann, however, was not suspended.  He was not fined.  He was not badmouthed by Jim Leyland.

Why?

I don’t care that Zimmermann didn’t admit that he hit Hamels on purpose after the game; he hit him on purpose.  The announcers even predicted retribution before the pitch was thrown.  When there is overwhelming evidence and motive, criminals in this country can be convicted even without “admitting” they committed a crime.

So, both players did the same thing.  Both players hit another player with a pitch on purpose.  And yet only one was punished.

That’s stupid.

You can say that it’s okay because he did it as payback, but is that really okay?  If someone steals my laptop from my house, isn’t it still a crime for me to go to their house and steal one of their possessions?  If I suddenly got a Dexter-esque urge to go out and kill murderers, would I not be a murderer as well?

I’m not complaining at all about the fact that Cole Hamels was suspended, but to not punish Zimmermann in any way is totally irrational.  Both pitchers did the exact same thing, and MLB made a completely arbitrary ruling against Cole Hamels.  

Two wrongs don’t make a right, and Zimmermann’s vigilante justice should not have gone unpunished.  

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Philadelphia Phillies: If the Season Ended Today

The Phillies have owned the NL East since the 2007 season and there is still plenty of time for them to turn things around this season. Typically, GMs and ownership use the 40-game mark to evaluate the team.

Well, Ruben Amaro Jr. rumors of kicking the tires on possibly dealing stars such as Cole Hamels and Shane Victorino surfaced this week and if the Phillies do not have plans to sign them after this season, Amaro should deal them. I’m not saying I want that to happen, but it’s better than losing them for nothing.

So while Phillies fans hope Ryan Howard and Chase Utley return and spark the offense and pray the team can improve on its 3-9 record when aces Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee start, let’s see how the season would look if it ended today around the NL and AL.

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Why Ruben Amaro Jr. May Blow Up Phillies’ Roster Come July

Today’s Captain Obvious statement: This season hasn’t gone very well for the Philadelphia Phillies.

After an encouraging road trip with series wins over the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals, the top two teams in the NL East, the Phillies flew straight down for a crash landing and were swept at home by the New York Mets.

That left the Phillies in last place with a 14-18 record, the third-worst mark in the National League. Manager Charlie Manuel saw all he could stand and couldn’t stand anymore after the 10-6 loss that finished off the sweep.

“We have to wake up and play better,” Manuel said to reporters after he called a team meeting. “We don’t like what we’ve been doing.”

“If we want to win and be able to go where we want to go, we better start playing better. We have to hit better, we have to catch the ball better and we have to pitch better. All three phases of the game. I think we need to get back to playing the game the way it needs to play, if we can.”

MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki correctly zeroed in on those last three words. Is there doubt as to whether the Phillies can really turn this thing around? 

Hours later, in a conversation with CSN Philly’s Jim Salisbury, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. went to a place Phillies fans surely never expected. 

“July is so far ahead,” Amaro said. “We just have to get on track. But if July comes and we’re playing like this, we’ll be sellers. How we play now will determine whether we’ll be buyers or sellers in July.”

The Phillies as sellers at the trade deadline? This is a team with championship expectations, projected to win the NL East, though perhaps warding off challenges from the Nationals and Miami Marlins. 

 

Impotent Lineup, Imploding Bullpen

Sure, it was bound to be rough in the early going.

Chase Utley wasn’t able to overcome knee injuries during the spring and his return is uncertain. Ryan Howard is out until at least mid-June, recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. Placido Polanco dealt with a finger injury and seems to be aging rapidly. Juan Pierre didn’t make the team until the end of spring training and is now the regular left fielder.

But if offensive struggles were expected, troubles from the bullpen were not.

Chad Qualls has allowed four runs and nine hits in his last three innings of work. Jose Contreras carries an 8.59 ERA. Kyle Kendrick has become a walking meltdown. Michael Schwimer and his 8.53 ERA were optioned to Class AAA, as was Brian Sanches and his 11.53 ERA. Joe Savery also boarded a shuttle to Lehigh Valley. 

Amaro could upgrade both of those areas if he was to start selling off pieces. That would be one reason to start breaking this thing down in July. 

 

Old and Busted

The Phillies’ roster also just needs to get younger. With an average age of 31.5, it’s the oldest club in the major leagues. Amaro has been able to plug holes with aging veterans like Ty Wigginton, Laynce Nix and Jim Thome, but it’s caught up with them as those players continue to break down with injuries. 

Trading away some of those veterans, especially the ones whose contracts expire after this season, would help replenish a minor league system that’s been tapped out by Amaro’s blockbuster dealing. This season has shown that the Phillies are in dire need of reinforcements, but none are available.

 

Who Could Go?

Cole Hamels and Shane Victorino would be the obvious places to start, since the Phillies risk losing them in free agency anyway. Not so coincidentally, the Toronto Blue Jays have already inquired about both players, according to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.  

But which contenders wouldn’t relish the chance to add one of the best pitchers in baseball? Even better, he’s left-handed. Teams on the fringes of the race might decide Hamels could provide a major boost, too. 

Victorino could help several teams in need of outfield help and speed, such as the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers. I’d say the Nationals too, but Amaro likely isn’t going to make a deal with a division rival. 

That could also apply to Hunter Pence, who could supply some outfield pop for any team in need.

If the Phillies don’t envision signing Pence to a long-term contract, he has one more year of arbitration eligibility that would keep him under club control until 2014. That’s a luxury that could allow Amaro to ask for more in trade. Although that’s the kind of player the Phillies should keep right now. 

 

Yes, much can change between now and July. And Philadelphia fans would surely hate giving up on this season when so much was expected.

But the early signs are not promising for the Phillies. Though they’re hardly out of the race from where they stand now, there are still four teams to leapfrog for the division lead. That’s a hurdle looking increasingly too high to clear. 

With Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, along with Howard and his albatross of a contract, the Phillies aren’t going to go into full rebuilding mode. There’s no need for that. But if the feeling is that the team can’t win this year, Amaro should do what he can to improve those chances for next year. 

Sacrifice 2012 to come back stronger in 2013? It gets easier to imagine with each Phillies loss.

 

Follow @iancass on Twitter

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MLB Rumors: Trading Cole Hamels Would Be Major Mistake by Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies find themselves in a tough position after a slow start. They currently sit in the NL East basement, leading General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. to say he might have to consider selling at the trade deadline.

Even though the Phillies aren’t happy about their poor play after winning five straight division titles, it’s way too early to make selling an option. That’s especially true when you consider one of the names being floated around is starting pitcher Cole Hamels.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports the Toronto Blue Jays have already contacted the Phillies in hopes of landing Hamels, who will be a free agent at season’s end. He states that no deal is imminent, but that talks have taken place.

While losing Hamels without getting anything other than a compensation pick for him is obviously a major concern, waiting until his contract year makes things extremely difficult on Amaro. Since the ace can enter free agency after the year, his open-market value is well below his actual value.

Hamels finished last season with a career-low 2.79 ERA, which ranked sixth in the National League. He’s shown even further improvement in 2012. He sports a 2.45 ERA and the peripheral numbers suggest it’s sustainable, mostly due to improved strikeout and walk rates.

Trading a superstar like him so early in the season—or at any point, really—would be a sign of surrender for the Phillies. While they envisioned a better start, no team has been able to run away with the division early, leaving Philadelphia just 5.5 games back despite playing well below expectations.

Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are both working their way back from injury and would provide a gigantic boost to a lineup that’s been been wildly inconsistent so far. If they can stay healthy, there’s no reason the Phillies can’t go on an extended hot streak.

They will need Hamels to make that possible, though. The drop-off from him to his replacement would be enormous, because the Blue Jays—or another team that steps up—probably wouldn’t be looking to deal any of their top-notch pitchers to get Hamels. They are looking for a deadline-year bargain.

So even though there are some obvious risks involved, the Phillies should keep Hamels. Getting him to re-sign would be the ideal scenario, but at the very least he will help them stay in contention and should give Philadelphia a hometown edge if he does enter free agency.

That’s likely better than any package teams would offer for him before the deadline. Ultimately, he’s worth more than the Phillies could get right now.

 

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Philadelphia Phillies: Each Player’s Trade Risk If They Fall out of It in July

Well, things haven’t gone as expected for the Philadelphia Phillies this season.

Coming into this season, they were expected to be the bunch of grizzled veterans that would be able to ride out the injury storm and keep their heads above water, playing like a force to be reckoned with at the top of the National League East and striking fear into the hearts of the rest of the division with the return of their All-Star right side of the infield.

That won’t be happening.

It’s been a long time since the Phillies found themselves in the cellar of the NL East for an extended period of time, and that is what is happening early in the season. The lineup is floundering, the bullpen is in shambles, and injuries are taking their toll on this team’s morale. 

While it’s still way too early to suggest that the Phillies won’t be in contention by the trade deadline, it is no stretch to suggest that this team is a shell of its former self.

What happens if the Phillies are still in the cellar when July rolls around? Will they look to trade some of their big roster players? You can bet your bottom dollar they will, but who is safe and who goes?

Time to find out.

Follow @Greg_Pinto

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Cole Hamels: If the Phillies Are Sellers, Could He Go to the Dodgers?

If you want to take Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. at his word, then the team with the second highest payroll in baseball might be sellers this season.

In some regards, it would make sense.

The team depleted its farm system to obtain Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee (the first time) and Hunter Pence, for example, and are currently 5.5 games out of first place in the NL East.

True, it is still early, but it sure feels like it’s been a long season in Philly.

Naturally, those interested in buying would be the “haves” of baseball: teams that are just missing a piece here or there to put their team over the top for a long playoff push.

The Dodgers are just such a team.

While sitting a comfortable five games ahead of the San Francisco Giants for first place in the NL West, the Dodgers are currently tied with the St. Louis Cardinals for the best record in the National League.

Cole Hamels would take the Dodgers from being a really good team to a great team, if they chose to pursue him.

Hamels currently owns a 4-1 record with a 2.45 ERA and 1.107 WHIP in six starts. That places him ahead of Clayton Kershaw in both wins and ERA, and tied with Chris Capuano and Ted Lilly for wins on the Dodgers.

How would that be for a starting rotation?

Kershaw, Hamels, Chad Billingsley, Capuano and Lilly. The team could bump Aaron Harang or use him as trade fodder.

It’s still too early to tell if the Phils will be sellers. If if it ends up that way, the Dodgers need to be in on Hamels and be in on him in a big way.

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Which Philadelphia Phillies Prospects Are Part of the Long-Term Plan?

Midseason and offseason trades in recent years have seen a number of prospects leave the Philadelphia Phillies’ minor-league system.

However, despite 16 prospects being traded in deals for Joe Blanton, Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Hunter Pence, the Phils’ minor-league system still contains prospects projected to contribute at the major-league level.

For every prospect, such as Travis d’Arnaud and Jarred Cosart, whom the team has traded in recent years, prospects such as Trevor May and Jesse Biddle have emerged as players with the potential to one day contribute for the Phils at the big-league level.

Of course, that’s barring any future trades.

And although he’s lost his prospect status after playing in 56 major-league games with 184 at-bats last season, Domonic Brown still has the potential to contribute for the Phils after rising through the team’s minor-league ranks.

A number of these prospects may not simply be part of the group that is left following recent trades.

Throughout their minor-league system, the Phillies have multiple prospects who may be part of the team’s long-term plan.

Here are 10 prospects who may be part of that plan.

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MLB Trade Rumors: Next 2 Months Will Determine Future of Phillies

Has time run out on the Philadelphia Phillies dynasty in the NL East?

The five-time defending champs are currently sitting in last place at 14-18, and have already dug themselves into a five-game hole. A 5-8 home record is a shocker, considering they were 52-29 at Citizen’s Bank at year ago.

As Ryan Howard and Chase Utley continue to slowly comeback from injury, and patience appears to be running thin in the Phillies’ front office.  

Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly spoke with general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. recently, and he didn’t sound like a man that was exactly comfortable with the direction his team was heading:

July is so far ahead. We just have to get on track. But if July comes and we’re playing like this, we’ll be sellers. How we play now will determine whether we’ll be buyers or sellers in July.

Every part of the team aside from the starting pitching has been horrific. Entering action on Thursday, the Phillies bullpen ranks dead last in ERA (5.47) and has blown six saves—third worst in baseball.

Jimmy Rollins (.230 avg, six SB) and his brand new contract have struggled, and Shane Victorino isn’t much better (.244 avg, .298 OBP). Aside from Carlos Ruiz, no player on the team is hitting better than .275.

The biggest problem, aside from the shoddy product on the field, is the sky-high payroll. Philly is just under the $178 million luxury-tax threshold. Obviously the front office doesn’t want to get dinged by paying the penalty for crossing it, so the odds of adding any payroll are incredibly slim…unless they start winning.

That means the next two months are going to be monumental for the future of this franchise. If they continue to struggle, a star like Utley may be sent packing. They may even have to trade a player due for a raise like Cole Hamels.

If they turn things around and begin to challenge the Washington Nationals, the team stays intact and adding payroll for a World Series run becomes an option once again.

Tense times in Philly.

 

Follow Eric Ball on Twitter

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