The Phillies actually preferred the Astros offer for starter Cole Hamels, but the lefty ultimately used his no-trade protection to block the trade, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports in his latest video. Included in the rejected deal were outfield prospect Brett Phillips and pitcher Josh Hader, both of whom went to the Brewers in the Carlos Gomez trade. The Astros may have been willing to guarantee Hamels’ fourth year, but he ultimately decided against the option.
- The Royals will have a tough time re-signing several key players. Lorenzo Cain might be the easiest, but he’ll first want to see how Jason Heyward performs on the free agent market. While Heyward is four years younger than Cain, the average annual value “could be instructive” per Rosenthal. Cain is under control for two more seasons. Meanwhile, Alex Gordon can opt out after this season, and he looks like a lock to do so. Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, both clients of Scott Boras, are also under club control for two seasons.
- Cardinals assistant GM Mike Girsch was a candidate for the Padres GM job opening last year. That posting was eventually filled by A.J. Preller. Girsch may be considered for other top jobs, but the Cardinals hacking scandal may put a damper on his market.
- Chase Utley will use his no-trade rights to pick his next team. Per Rosenthal, Utley may not make an obvious decision. For example, he may or may not be interested in playing for his home town Giants. As was reported repeatedly over the past few days, Utley will seek to find a home where he’ll continue to play regularly both this season and next.
Its interesting that months after it first came out, no charges have been filed in the “Cardinals hacking scandal”. Even though a person admitted he signed into the Astros account, nothing has been done. No charges, no arrests, not even a computer taken into evidence. I wonder if its the Astros that will end up in more trouble for stealing Cardinals proprietary systems?
Well, we don’t really know what evidence the FBI has or what physical evidence was confiscated. There has been at least 1 firing by the Cardinals, and i’m thinking maybe there was a second one. The FBI isn’t in the habit of telling the media everything in an ongoing investigation.
Somewhere along the lines the FBI did seize some laptops.. I don’t think we have seen the end of this but I am not sure anyone is going to do any jail time.. A couple of Cardinals scouts did get the axe though..
Their Scouting Director got fired.
I get that it’s his right to choose, but I really don’t understand why he’d block a trade to Houston
especially when he went to texas anyway
He couldn’t block a trade to the Rangers.
Cole’s wife has family in Dallas. They were probably more comfortable going there since they already knew the area.
The Rangers weren’t on Cole’s no trade list
My guess is he probably saw the Rangers as being a better bet of offering him an extension.
Why in the world would they extend him?
He already has a long term contract… signed thru 2020
Nope. He couldn’t block a trade to the Rangers like he could with the Astros. Why he ever chose to block a trade to the Astros is anyone’s guess.
I would rather go to Texas myself. Astros could very well pull a Miami move. Have a good season and then sell everyone off and then Cole is stuck with….well….garbage. More long term players with Texas so even if he doesn’t go back to the playoffs this season, the next 2 season look somewhat ok for him.
How is Utley’s hometown team the Giants? He is went to HS at Long Beach Poly.
He lives in the San Francisco in the off season.
This Utley thing reminds me of the AJ Preller stuff last off-season along with the name players he brought in.The rumors were talked about and speculated incessantly. But anyone that follows the sport knew all those players were questionable – hardly on an upswing in their careers.
Now the discussion is what contending team is willing to uproot what is working to get a player that has had 25 great AB’s in the last 2 seasons – and he wants guaranteed playing time not only this year, but next year as well. Plus his salary is going to be expensive – much more so then the players that he’ll be replacing whose teams have been winning with them. Example – Joe Panik has been one of he best 2B’s in MLB the past year. He’s young, getting better, and cheap. Because he’s injured the Giants are supposed to take on Utley and pay such a high salary next year that the Giants will have to play him at 2B, as there’s no DH in the NL. And neither Utley or Panik has shown they can play any other position. How can anyone believe going into 2016 that Utley will be a better 2B then Panik?
Maybe something miraculous will work out. But this seems more then a bit odd to me.
The Yankees could sure use him and his salary next year (speculated to be about $6.5m from what I have read) isn’t much more than they are paying Drew this year.. As horrible as Utley has been with the bat he would still be an improvement over Drew.. Utley has shown that he can also play 1st.. But he is a 2nd baseman.. Moving him to LF shouldn’t be too much of a problem..
Are the Yankees winning?
You are a yankees fan and havent seen former ss hanley ramirez in left?
chase just has a 2 million dollar buyout, which the phils will probably take care of. so its simply a matter of where chase will play for a month and half plus possibly playoffs, so playing in SF probably doesnt matter to him. true, if there is a destination he thinks might be a place to re-sign for next year, then he might have interest in going there to try out the place for the balance of the season.
We shall see.
Recent speculation is that Utley wants the team getting him to pick up his 2016 option and guarantee him playing time.
Royals have Escobar going into his final year at very modest cost. Think they could sell high to help revamp and extend their window
come on Rosenthal, if you can get 2 names, cant you get the entire package?
true, Phillips would be better than Nick Williams, and Hader basically the same as Jake Thompson, though Hader being a lefty and most of the Phils pitching prospects being right handed, would have been nice to get a lefty.
but the lottery ticket on Alfaro, plus Eickoff and Asher might both conceivably fill spots in a wide open 2016 rotation next year makes the Texas package pretty good.
Of course taking back Harrison’s contract, the Phils might have just liked the financial aspect of the Houston offer better.
I don’t see Utley getting playing time next year for anybody other the Yankees…if only for just this year then talk about 2016, the Royals would be a good fit. Infante hasn’t hit much and could start against tough lefties. But I could see the Yankees taking on his contract right now for next year.
Why would the Royals want him? They’re already paying Infante $7+ million to not be able to turn two with his bum shoulder and his inability to hit fastball or sliders away. I’m still amazed pitchers actually pitch him inside at all. Ever since he got hit in the face he’s been a completely different hitter. Once Gordo is back, Zobrist goes to 2B and Infante rides the pine. Problem with Omar is nobody will want him for the money he’s making so it’s hard for the R’s to do anything with him unless they eat the salary.