The Philadelphia Phillies remain interested in trading left-handed ace Cole Hamels, but are not backing off their demands for top prospects. Where Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro will bend, however, is in how much of Hamels' remaining $88.5 million they will assume.
The leading candidate to acquire Hamels is still the Boston Red Sox, whose woeful starting rotation has negated anything their powerful, but slumping, offense has been able to accomplish. The Red Sox are six games under .500 and in last place in the American League East; they allow the second most runs per game in the AL (4.67) and have the second-worst team ERA (4.44).
Boston only has two starters with sub-5.00 ERAs, one of whom is Wade Miley, who is coming close with a 4.97 mark. One scout speaking with CSN Philly believes the Red Sox are a perfect match with the Phillies.
"The team with the most resources to get him is Boston. They have the talent and can take the financial hit," the scout said before noting that all the teams in the AL East are in play.
"The AL East is there for the taking. They all could benefit from Hamels. Now, I don't know what the Red Sox's plan is. Who knows if their offense will come around. It might not."
Hamels is 5-4 this season in 74.1 innings with a 2.95 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. He has posted 9.2 K/9 ratio, as well, showing little drop in performance besides a slight uptick in his walks. Helping Philadelphia's case are injury concerns attached to Johnny Cueto of the Cincinnati Reds and Scott Kazmir of the Oakland A's.
Hamels is the safest pitcher on the market that is readily available, and his team is starting to make themselves a little easier to trade with.
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