MLB Trade News: High Interest In Cole Hamels From Four Squads

Cole Hamels is being pursued by multiple teams in this Major League Baseball, or MLB, offseason. As many as eight MLB teams with four having made real offers for the star pitcher.

According to CSNPhilly.com, Hamels has drawn interest from multiple teams as confirmed by Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. although the Philadelphia official did not name which teams has shown the willingness to trade for the veteran pitcher. One team rumoured to be interested in Hamels are the San Diego Padres, who made an aggressive offer but eventually agreed with another free agent in pitcher James Shields, who was signed to a four-year $75 million contract.

“If there was an offer commensurate to what we believe is [Hamels’] value we would strongly consider it,” Amaro Jr. said in the article in effect saying Hamels is available at the right price. The teams mentioned earlier in the offseason are the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs.

Hamels is a three-time MLB All Star making the selection in 2007, 2011 and 2012. He won the Babe Ruth Award in 2008 and also a World Series champion and became the World Series Most Valuable Player that year. Hamels was picked in the first round and 17th overall selection of the 2002 MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies and has played with the team since 2006.

The 31 year Hamels has a career record of 108 wins against 83 losses with 3.27 ERA and 1,707 strikeouts. He played in 30 games last season going 9-9 with 2.46 ERA and 198 strikeouts. Philadelphia was the worst team in the National League East division last season going 73-89 to miss the MLB postseason for the past three seasons. The Phillies are in rebuilding mode and might want to accelerate the process by trading away veterans for valued future picks or prospects. Other prospective trade chips still with the Philadelphia squad are Cliff Lee and Ryan Howard.

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