Cole Hamels Trade Rumors: Latest Updates on Dodgers, Rangers and More

Cole Hamels has been having one of his best years so far. Since his last outing on July 15th, he’s 11-4 with a 3.07 ERA and 125 strikeouts. Those are ace numbers, and others teams are looking at him as precisely that.

As perhaps the hottest trade piece on the market, there seems to be a new trade rumor every day. Here we’ll look at all of the biggest updates and look to see where he may end up.

This will be periodically updated throughout July, with new information added to the beginning of the list.

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Roy Oswalt Video: Phillies Pitcher Gets Hit in Head by Manny Ramirez Line Drive

When you go through spring training, you don’t expect to have to see players go down due to injury. Nonetheless, it does happen, and when it’s a line drive right back to the pitcher, it’s always a very concerning moment since you worry if the pitcher’s going to be alright.

Such a situation happened today in an exhibition game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays. Roy Oswalt was facing Manny Ramirez in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ramirez hit the ball right back to Oswalt, and he went down.

While the video looked like he was hit in the upper back, the slowed down replay showed he was instead hit behind the ear, on the neck. He was able to get up on his own power, and didn’t look to have any serious aftereffects from the shot.

He was taken to a hospital, and X-rays done were negative. Oswalt also noted that he did not suffer from any dizziness or concussion symptoms, though he did end up with a neck bruise.

The big story here is, of course, that a crisis was averted. Shots like that can go badly so easily, and he could have ended up with a concussion or even a broken neck had it hit slightly over.

There are probably some people out there that want to blame Manny Ramirez for the shot, but that would just be foolish. One can’t magically dictate exactly where a ball is going to go when they hit it, so I would hope no one really believe that was meant to happen.

It’s too early to tell if Oswalt will miss any time as a result of this, though I would imagine his preseason is over just to be on the safe side. After all, we know he’s going to be one of the stars in the rotation, so he might as well look forward to that.

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10 NFL Draft Prospects the Eagles Should Select To Surround Michael Vick

The Philadelphia Eagles had a solid 2010 season. Yes, they lost to the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers in the playoffs, but Michael Vick is better than every at quarterback and the young offensive talent fits together perfectly.

Nonetheless, Michael Vick is a high-risk quarterback, and could certainly get injured during the course of next season. The Eagles cannot afford to let this happen, especially if Kevin Kolb is in a different uniform. As a result, they need to make moves that help protect Vick in the upcoming draft.

Who are the Eagles looking to target? Here are 10 possibilities for the Eagles to draft in the first two rounds. The list includes defensive players as well as offense despite the title, since the defense needs to make plays so that Vick can do what he does best.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Which Remaining Free Agents Could the Team Sign?

The Philadelphia Phillies have made a major splash in free agency this past offseason. The only person of note they lost was Jayson Werth, who signed with the Washington Nationals, and they signed Cliff Lee to a deal seemingly out of nowhere.

Beyond that huge signing, most of their contracts were either minor league offers, such as signing Kevin Cash, and re-signing their own free agents, like Jose Contreras.

Nonetheless, the team still has a couple voids remaining. They could use a number five starter, although they don’t seem to be in a hurry to trade Joe Blanton. Having an extra proven lefty alongside J.C. Romero could help as well.

While Ruben Amaro has noted that he’s fine with the roster as is, here are some players that the Phillies could bring in.

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The Revival Of Jose Contreras

Jose Contreras, this past weekend.

In two appearances out of the bullpen against the Atlanta Braves, May 8th and 9th, Contreras came up in the eighth inning and mowed down the seven combined batters he faced. In 11 pitches a game, he kept the Braves at bay and saw his ERA move down to 0.83.

Jose Contreras, one year ago.

Contreras was contributing to the struggles of the White Sox. After a May 8th outing against the Texas Rangers, he failed to get past the fourth inning for the second straight game, allowing three earned runs on 81 pitches in the loss. The bad news was his record plummeted to 0-5.

The good news, if you can call it that, was his ERA fell from 8.31 to 8.19.

Several days after this performance, just about a year to the day, Contreras was sent to the minor leagues on his suggestion, clearing waivers after no one else wanted him. At 37, perhaps he was done. He had a nice run, but maybe there was nothing left in the tank.

Fast forward to September. He had brought his ERA down near five, but where else is there to place a 37 year old with a 5-13 record? Perhaps the bullpen? Contreras was to be placed in the bullpen for the White Sox, but instead was sent to the Colorado Rockies.

Jose Contreras, eight months ago.

After two starts for the Rockies, he strained his thigh and had to miss a couple weeks. When he returned to pitch, the light bulb went off in manager Jim Tracy’s head and Contreras was quietly placed into the bullpen. He allowed one earned run in five relief appearances and brought his ERA under five with his final performance of the season.

He was on the roster for the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies, and in two appearances in the sixth inning, he allowed one earned run. His second appearance was lackluster, but in the first he threw nine of 10 pitches for strikes, and kept the Phillies from scoring as the Rockies went on to win game two.

The Phillies must have sensed something during that game.

Jose Contreras, four months ago.

The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs were extending offers and getting a look at him. A couple weeks latter, the Philadelphia Phillies take a look as well. By the end of the month, Contreras’ name was on the contract and he was given a spot in the bullpen.

Ruben Amaro described the signing as a “leap of faith,” understandably so as he was now 38, and there was no telling what he might bring to the table. For $1.5 million though, he could provide a good amount of bullpen help as a middle reliever or setup man.

Jose Contreras, today.

To say the deal has worked out is an understatement. He has allowed a single earned run in 12 appearances, and has thrown 15 strikeouts alongside a single walk. He has not pitched over an inning in a game or over 20 pitches, and is able to focus his best stuff into his game as a result.

There was even talk about using him as a temporary closer, though that did not come to fruition. Clearly, the man with the 98 mph fastball and the nasty splitter is back, and he has been a key figure in solidifying the Phillies as the top team in the National League. He’s back, ready to strike down other teams, and the Phillies would not want it any other way.

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