Categories: Rumors

Giants reportedly among teams interested in Cole Hamels

Cole Hamels is a franchise icon in Philadelphia. (Christopher Szagola/Icon Sportswire)

More than a decade after the San Francisco Giants prevented the Philadelphia Phillies from reaching a third consecutive World Series title, they apparently have interest in signing one of the key members of that Phillies team.

According to Jon Morosi of MLB.com, the Giants “are among the clubs to express preliminary interest” in Hamels, the 2008 World Series MVP.

After signing a one-year/$18 million deal with the division-rival Atlanta Braves last offseason, shoulder and arm injuries limited Hamels to just one start for the eventual National League East Champions. That comes after an oblique injury limited him to 27 starts for the Chicago Cubs in 2019.

Following back-to-back injury-riddled campaigns, MLB Network‘s Jon Heyman reported in December that Hamels wouldn’t be opposed to throwing for teams, assuming such an event could take place in a COVID-19 world. It can, as two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber held a showcase for teams earlier this week. But while Morosi says that Hamels definitely plans to pitch in 2021, there currently hasn’t been a throwing session open to scouts from interested teams scheduled.

If healthy, the 37-year-old could seemingly provide value to a team in 2020. Gabe Kapler’s Giants saw another former Phillies lefty, Drew Smyly, depart in free agency this offseason, so Hamels could be a replacement and join a rotation that’s also expected to include Johnny Cueto and Kevin Gausman.

Earlier this week, Morosi reported that the Phillies have interest in 36-year-old Aníbal Sánchez, as they look to upgrade the back-end of their rotation. Heyman previously reported that the Phillies had interest in veteran righty José Ureña before he inked a deal with the Detroit Tigers.

As the Phillies look to add depth behind the trio of Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Zach Eflin, could Hamels be a fit? Maybe, but with uncertainty about what they’ll get from Spencer Howard and Vince Velasquez in 2021, Hamels might not provide the stability president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is looking for. Among older, former frontline starters, Adam Wainwright probably makes more sense

than Hamels.

Of course, Hamels is one of the two World Series MVPs in franchise history. If both he and the Phillies get the sense that 2021 could be his final season, anything could happen.