Phillies starter Cole Hamels has completed a no-hitter against the Cubs in what could be his final start with Philadelphia. Hamels walked two (Dexter Fowler twice) and struck out 13 in the gem. Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera deserves a hat tip – he made two adventurous catches in the final two innings. If you missed the game, it’s well worth catching the highlights on SportsCenter.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports adds (via Twitter) that only two pitchers have been traded in a season in which they tossed a no-hitter – Edwin Jackson in 2010 and Cliff Chambers in 1951. The Cubs got a good first-hand look at Hamels – they are one of several clubs connected to him. There have also been a few new bits of information from FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi, all via Twitter (1 2 3 4 5).
- The Yankees have asked about Hamels, but their interest does not appear to be much more than due diligence at this time. The Phillies like Yankees power-hitting prospect Aaron Judge, but the Yankees don’t want to trade top prospects like Judge, first baseman Greg Bird or righty Luis Severino. “We’ve had conversations with every club willing to sell, finding out what they’re willing to sell and what their price tags are,” says Yankees exec Brian Cashman.
- In addition to the Yankees, other recent teams to express interest in Hamels include the Dodgers, Cubs, Rangers and Giants.
- The Astros are scouting Hamels’ start today. Rosenthal says that they’re keeping tabs on his market, since they might be better positioned to offer the Phillies what they’re looking for than some other teams are.
As we speak, Hamels is throwing a you-know-what. If this is his last start as a Phillie, it’ll be one to remember.
I get a laugh out of the Phillies + Hamels detractors.
If Hamels had the fortune of pitching out in the cavernous parks in the west, with the heavy marine layer he would be putting up the same kind of numbers as Bumgarner,Greinke,and Kershaw.
Until this recent funk Hamels had a 44 career WAR, Career Whip of 1.09,era of 3.02. All that playing in a mickey mouse baseball arena where the ball flys in 100% humidity.
I guess if Jorge De La Rosa pitched in the comfy confines of Philadelphia during his prime he would have put up numbers similar to Hamels.. You can speculate on how Hamels would pitch on the west coast all you want but that doesn’t amount to anything..
Hamels 6-2 1.80 era pitching in LAD&SD. 10 seasons
At Citizens Bank Park 56-44 3.26 era
His ERA against the Dodgers/Padres at home is just 2.16. So maybe it has less to do with the spacious ballparks and more to do with the fact that the Dodgers offense over the past decade has been sporadic – and that the Padres offense over the same time period has been awful.
Is that the same awful Padre offense that Kershaw,BumGarner,Greinke have feasted on over the years?
You get a kick out of a false narrative that exists in your head? Geez…
No one has bashed Cole Hamels, ok? Fans discussing their team’s pursuit of Hamels aren’t hot on him because he represents an unnecessary cost at this moment in time – not because he isn’t talented. The Phillies are fighting against a lack of urgency in Hamels because the trade market is currently flooded with cheaper options — and the free agency market is forecast to be even more flooded!
No intelligent GM is going to just hand over a handful of elite prospects for Hamels when they can acquire a comparable pitcher for considerably less. The fact that Hamels has 3 years remaining on his deal past this season is completely irrelevant because there will be a half-dozen good-to-great options on the free agent market this winter. Yes, some teams are going to be left empty handed when it comes to acquiring one of those pitchers, but there’s simply no reason to give up what the Phillies are demanding (rightfully demanding, mind you) until that moment comes.
Really – ask yourself this… Why would a team give up a top-5 prospect for a great pitcher when they can give up a top-50 prospect for an equally talented pitcher, and then go sign an equally talented pitcher over the winter w/o giving up a prospect in return?. Answer that question, and then you’ll see where fans of EVERY other team are coming from, and you’ll realize why he hasn’t been dealt.
Once the FA market clears up this winter, Hamels is going to look VERY attractive to the contenders that missed out on Price, Cueto, Zimmerman – and even Gallardo, Kazmir, and Samardzija. But until then, he just represents the absolute most expensive option available.
Because the FA pitcher will cost 3+ years and $80+ million more, with most of that extra money being sent in their 36-38 post prime years, in addition to likely costing a 1st or 2nd round pick, which would likely be a top 5-7 prospect.
For a team like the Cubs who are contenders today with a lot of cheap talent, it makes sense to get a great pitcher now whose contract will be up when that cheap talent gets expensive. It would really suck to have to choose between a Kris Bryant and a Schwarber or Rizzo because you are paying Cueto 27 million dollars a year for his 35-37 years instead of waving goodbye to Hamels and having that money freed up for better, younger talent.
Really it comes down to how much you value prospects. I see people throw around surplus value all the time thinking that a young superstar will be cheap for 6 years. No, he’ll be a Super 2 who by year 5 will be making FA type money, and slightly discounted during years 3 and 4. For reference if you pass on Hamels and pay Price $100 million more you are saying that your prospects have a surplus value of $100 million. Mike Trout and Bryce Harper combined have provided far less than $100 million surplus value total, so the chances of any prospect package a suitor can provide will even approach that number in pretty much zero.
True , pitched tough for Years in a Hitters Park !
You had to go there.
What if Cubs made the trade during the game? He’d get in the dugout and they be like go get the Cubs jersey on you’re no longer needed here.
NO HITTER through 4.1 seriously can’t tell if he’s that good or if my cubs offense is this bad. Probably a mixture of both
Next time I see you on the street, you’re going to wear a 65 MPH beanball from my cannon of an arm!
But in all seriousness, the last time Hamels was consistently 94-96 with his fastball, he through the first 6 IP of a combined no hitter. Hes looking fairly swell right now.
The gun at Wrigley has to be hot. Saw Papelbon at 95 yesterday. Couple mphs too fast.
Well both Papelbon and Hamels have been more dominate than they have been all season, so maybe its not a problem with the gun.
Or the Cubs just aren’t that good.
Don’t get why the hitting machine Schwarber isn’t allowed to catch these other guys. All he does is hit baseballs.
He would catch. Lefty on the mound though.
No he won’t catch for Lester or arrietta yet.
And he does look good but like someone said the radar gun may be off it had arrietta at 97 earlier
Arrietta is pretty consistently topping out 96 with his 4 seam.
But it might be good for him to catch Lester or Arrieta. Ross is not Schwarber at the plate and I thought he did a good job catching the other three pitchers.
I agree but it is what it is I guess I’d like to see him in left at some point I’d it’s like this we really need his bat in the line-up everyday
Theo needs to stop trying to get top end pitching when the hitting has been awful for the past month. Scoring 0-2 runs a game doesn’t equate to wins.
Make the trade to end the no hitter.
Clearly the garbage Cubs are still the garbage Cubs. St Louis we get to walk right into another WS this year. Never a reason to worry about anyone in this division. All garbage
LMAO I tried jinxing the no no looks like i jinxed my team instead lol I’m a disgrace
Someone will overpay for him by him throwing this no hitter.
the throwing of a no hitter does nothing to his trade value. he was already an elite Sp.
see CC Sabathia.
Hell the reds over paid bailey for two no-nos and that was for sure a no-no
Hope the Phillies just keep Hamels.Theyve been playing much better since Ryne Sandberg fired himself-thank goodness.
They just inked a $5 B TV contract with Comcast.No reason they cant be very active in free agency come November. They need a Catcher, couple mid rotation guys to help Hamels+Nola, and an entire new outfield.
Keeping your best trade assets when you won’t be good for a few years is just dumb. Period. As much as I love Hamels, he needs to be traded. Now. He’s no use to a ball club that has multiple holes all over the Diamond, which will take a few years to build up. Why keep Hamels when you won’t contend?
That’s RAJ for you
Who says they cant be good for a few more years? They just got rid of their main problem- Ryne Sandberg and hopefully Rube + Gillick will soon follow.
Its a huge market with a $5 B motherload Cable deal.Stop fielding a minor league outfield and garbage back end of the rotation.
Get back to being a Big Market Club. Get out there this fall and Spend some of that Comcast money and give Upton + Cespedes that extra $20 M. Knock it off with jerome Williams,O’Sullivan,Coreia’s.
The Phillies can spend as much money as they want. It will be AT LEAST 3 years, probably 4, until they’re as good as the Nats, Mets or even the Braves.
They’re 7-15 since Sandberg quit. They should be active in FA, but for guys like Colby Rasmus, Matt Latos, Dexter Fowler and other guys in danger of not getting a QO.
But 6-1 post all-star break.
Why do you want to be cautious? Caution the past 4 years has cost the Phillies owners about $1 Billion in market valuation.
Go get some elite players and get the fans and excitement back.
Its alrea\dy been a 4 year death spiral , you want to make it 8-9 year death spiral.?
because if you go get Upton an 8 year deal, Cespedes a 6 year deal, Price a 7 year deal, Samardzija a 5 year deal, etc.
You’re in the same situation 5 years down the road, with older, expensive, underperforming veterans, with no kids on the farm because you lost ur picks on QOs.
Can you guarantee me that? Same situation is aged overpriced vets kept too long who won you a world series and got to and lost another…
Monty right ? Spend some of that Comcast money, you rat. Im tired of having an outfield full of leprechauns and a semi-pro rotation.
Happy I don’t have cable. Comcast is a joke. Been on this Apple TV and have saved like $78 a month while Comcast rapes their customers
Yes, because going out and getting elite players has worked out sooooo well for the Marlins, Blue Jays, Padres, etc.
But 7-15 since Sandberg quit. Why are you cherry picking those particular 7 game to fit your narrative when it really isn’t even true?
Why be cautious? The Phillies will definitely have a protected pick next year..
I would be comfortable sending anyone except Judge for Cole Hamels. Having a Tanaka, Hamels, Pineda 1-3 would be pretty awesome for the next couple of years. Although a lot of teams rotations would look great with Hamels. Cashman doesn’t exactly like trading their top prospects even when they weren’t that great. There is little to no chance he deals away either top 30 prospect in all of baseball.
Judge is probably the only one worth getting rid of Hamels to be honest.
If Amaro was dreaming on Pederson, Seagar, Urias, Betts, Swihart during ST.. At least 1 of those guys in any deal from LAD/Boston, then the team adding MORE? Maybe the Phillies wanted all 3? None are at the level of those 5.
No Judge No Hamels !
Question, please correct me if I”m wrong, but didn’t Cole Hamel’s all ready say no to being traded to the Astros?
I don’t know if that report was ever confirmed. He came out and said that he’s willing to listen on any team.
He said he was open to anyone at this point. Stros made their move already. Think they moved on. Phillies have about the dumbest GM in baseball who should have been fired two years ago. But here we are.
Astros have a Scout at Game and have what the Phils want. No way he gets Trade in Game with a No Hitter going.
more than likely it was words that got skewed. He probably wants his option picked up to goto any team on his no trade.
Tired of hearing about this guy. Either take a shit or get off the pot. Been two years of the same thing.
I think it might be time for Moneyball Part 2. The new market inefficiency is the overvaluing of prospects. They don’t want to trade Judge, Bird, or Severino, but they want to pick up a 31 year old ace that has already accumulated 42.6 career WAR and is signed to a cheaper contract than he would get on the open market this offseason. People are just so scared to trade away a potential star that are not going to get a current proven star. Trading is all about gambles and no one is just going to give away their ace. Worst case scenario for the Phillies, they keep Hamels in town. Not exactly a really bad thing there.
I’ve been an huge “lets trade Hamels already” guy because our farm system was so bad. Right now, its not really that terrible. At least we have future options.
Some of our best young position players are 3 outfielders in Randolph, Quinn and Altherr, we have a good young catcher in Andrew Knapp, we have plenty of middle of the rotation pitching, mixed with a TOR potential arm in Nola, and we have our SS and 1B of the future.
If we don’t get a good package for Hamels, I’m to the point where keeping him might just not be the worst possible situation.
The problem with keeping Hamel’s is these trade rumors are never going to end. I’m in favor of trading Hamel’s now, so this team can move forward.
I am a Rockies fan. I have been listening to Tulo trade rumors since before Hamels signed his extension. It’ll be okay.
It would be hilarious if Hamels was traded for Tulowitski, both permanent trade rumors!
Don’t forget about Kilome!
Hes alittle far down the road before we start talking about him. Hes got 2-3 more years atleast before hes going to get big league consideration.
I agree. Plus you got to add this years top pick coming and the international draft. I think they could spend there way out of this. The pitching is just about set with Lee and Utleys money coming off the books
Just because he would sign a more expensive contract this year doesn’t mean he is currently under valued.. You do realize that he has almost as many innings on his arm as Shields? Shields main detractors this off season stated that he had too many innings on his arm for a long term deal.. You all of a sudden think Hamels would get a 8 year deal if he had the same questions? In case you are wondering Lester has 200 fewer innings than Hamels and Scherzer has almost 600 fewer innings.. Hamels would be lucky to get a 5 year deal on the open market..
Well considering that he has 4 years left on his contract, I think a 5 year deal would be more expensive than he currently has. A 4 year deal would be more expensive too. I don’t know where you are getting 8 years from? Half of that deal is over, so you don’t count it anymore.
So…. why has the price come down on Hamels? Wasn’t it Betts and Swihart together that the Phillies wanted? Now… AAron Judge will do? And that…. is considered an over pay?
Because the original demands were too much. Hes been pitching worse save today and hes getting older while losing contractual control everyday.
Mr. Theo, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
So he is benjamin button and reverse aging? Or is his contract suddenly longer at a cheaper AAV? This site really has ignorant commentators.
AAron, really funny guy? Try AAA. Also, 13 of 50 midseason is respectable, lets not act otherwise. Every team has that one piece they just simply don’t want to part with for short of a bargain return, and Judge is that piece for NY. Giving him up would not be an overpay, they just don’t want to do it. I think they would consider a package centered around Severino, even if they’ve stated otherwise, who’s still a top 20 prospect, plus just about anyone else in the system to round out the deal. But Judge and Severino alike just isn’t going to happen in one deal. If it’s not enough for Philly, so be it, I understand that.
Yeah asking for betts and swihart was just him trying to rob. A fair deal is a top prospect. A couple very good prospects and a big league ready utility guy or bullpen arm and a lottery ticket. But it really all depends how much money they eat. If they pay the whole deal he is worth judge and severino and probably bird as well.
No reason to part with more prospects to save money from NY’s perspective though. That’s why I don’t think the two line up. Philly should be in it to acquire talent, and they’re not going to get both guys from NY.
There is. Considering where they are at luxury wise its even more money for them. Severino might just be a bullpen guy, bird hasnt really done anything crazy to impress. Judge has a good floor but the likelihood he puts in a 4 win season isnt as likely as hamels doing it.
I don’t think where they are with the luxury tax is going to effect how they go about their business, they’ve made conscious effort to add talent back into the system as much as they can, and they’re just not going to part with all of it in one swoop. Like I said, I could see them making a package centered around Severino here, but not around both Severino and Judge, it just isn’t going to happen.
I just said its worth it. Whether they will or not who knows.
Yes… AAron. 23 and mashing at the AA level to get that #13 status isn’t impressive. He may be in AAA now, but a .745OPS in AAA isn’t the same as an .866OPS in AA. Should be in the majors at 23.
He has value with the glove a la a heyward. Doesny need to hit as much as a guy like bird who is bat only.
Judge is by no means an overpay. I was referring to the betts and swihart part as betts is way more valuable alone than hamels. Judge, bird and a lottery ticket is a fair deal
Aaron Judge is a top 20 prospect in baseball. In fact, he’s ranked similarly to where Swihart was in the offseason. The Yankees aren’t going to give a top 20 prospect in baeball (#14 in baseball on a recent midseason list) for Hamels, similarly to how the Red Sox or Dodgers wouldn’t.
He asked for swihart AND betts. Also swihart is a catcher and judge is a rf. Easier to find a corner of. Baez was the second overall prospect a year ago and is younger than judge and that already got turned down.
That’s a midseason prospect list. Does not include any draft picks or international signings. Judge will drop to mid-30s when a full prospect list is out.
Hamels fastball has ticked up some how. 96 mph in the second inning. He was always a 92 mph guy.
Cubs are trying to raise the price for other clubs.
Yeah they are trying to get no hit.
Who said anything about getting no-hit? If word got around he was throwing 96…. wouldn’t it pique teams’ interest?
He gets Trade after Game,
This is the usual Chicago implosion part of the year. Not good against bottom dwelling teams. Braves, Reds, Phillies all garbage. St Louis will be 70 games ahead of everyone by mid August like every year.
Hes fired up I would guess. He might think he has something to prove after 2 terrible outings, plus the scouts in the stands.
Young bats just arent good against guys with good changeups. You dont see many great changeups in the minors.
Gun is hot.
maybe the warmer weather?
If the Dodgers get Hamels , God help the other Teams in the League, Facing Kershaw, Greinke and Hamels is going to be a Nightmare !
Us Phillies phans thought the same thing with Halladay, Lee, Hamels and Oswalt. Didn’t work out so well for us did it.
I think a 102-win season would count as working out.
Soooooooo ….. Will take Seager, Urias, and Pederson ….. And I’d like my BALLZ. Rubbed” said Amaro
Theo calling Amaro ” sorry, Hollywood wants no part of chi town …. He thinks your team stinks!
Your demeanor pretty much sums up Philly’s classy fanbase.
I don’t agree with the previous poster, but way to generalize an entire fanbase that you clearly know nothing about.
I think Cole just netted you guys a top 100 prospect now lol. As for Seager, Urias,and Peterson..You really need to lay off the shrooms man..Its clouding your rationality.
Hamels was filthy today. 116th or so pitch was a fastball at 96 and his changeup fell off the table more often than plates from a bad waiter.
But I thought the trolls said Hamels can’t pitch ! He’s overrated ! About the best BIG GAME pitcher in MLB ! Take that and suck on it haters !!!!!
As much as it pains me to say it, I’m pretty sure that title belongs to Bumgarner
I’ll take either on my team any day of the week. Granted, Hamels is currently on my team but hopefully not for long. I look forward to rooting for him on a contender.
Thank you Cole Hamel’s this game was the highlight of the season.
I am wondering if a team that loss out on out on Hamels will call the Braves and try to Tehran. Tehran while he is not putting as good of a number as Hamels he is much younger then Hamels. Also Tehran is signed to a team friendly deal.
Teams are waiting to see if Price goes on the Market. If theirs are more Trades before Monday Postion Players,Bullpeners.
Yankees need to shut CC Sabathia Down, He’s become an embarrassment to the Yankees , send him to Bullpen or have him sell Cotton Candy as a Vendor but get him out of Starting Rotation. Give whatever it takes to get Cole Hamels from the Phillies.
What about Pineda? His last 6 starts he has a 4.91ERA? Just about the same as CC. I guess he can sell peanuts.
The real embarrassing thing is the fact the phillies needed to start rebuilding three years ago..when you have witnessed at poorly ran franchise in Pittsburgh for so many years its real easy to spot one in philly.
Package Castro for hamels stop messing around get that s*** done
Hamels to the Yankees!
Cole Hamels …. like a BOSS!
I’ve said this many times before I’ll say it again. Castro Almora, Vogelbach and cash for Hamels. Thats a win win for both teams