The Philadelphia Phillies have three options regarding starter Cole Hamels this offseason according to ESPN’s Buster Olney. Those options include signing the lefty to a one year contract and prepare themselves for him possibly walking away after the 2012 season. Offer him a long-term deal that could reach in upwards of $20 million a year. Or the Phillies could trade him for the best possible return.
If the Phillies go with option 3 (trade him), there more than likely will be a bunch of potential interested teams in Hamels services. Of course you will always have the Yankees and Red Sox getting in on the action which is no surprise. However you’d have to figure that the Detroit Tigers would also get in on any trade talk involving Hamels.
In 2011, the Tigers had zero lefties in their rotation after they sent Phil Coke back to the bullpen. Adding a lefty like Hamels to a rotation that would already include Justin Verlander, Doug Fister, Max Scherzer and rookie Jacob Turner could look very enticing the Tigers front office. With Rick Porcello potentially being the odd man out, don’t be surprised if the Tigers include the young right-hander in a package for Hamels.
According to Jason A. Churchill of ESPN, Hamels has one year of club control remaining and is likely to get $10 million 2012 via arbitration.
Ref: ESPN, everyjoe.com (image)
