Most of us feel, although it's not being reported as such, that he has a no trade clause to Houston and he's trying to leverage it into getting his option year exercised. He doesn't have that leverage with other clubs that aren't on his no trade list.
maybe too much, but not way too much. If you want an ace that has team control you better be willing to pay
The only one out of those three I would miss is Velasquez and he becomes a luxury if the team still has Dallas, Kazmir, Hamels, McHugh, McCullers and Feldman.
If there are not on no-trade list, Phillies can ship him off without asking permission. Supposedly, there are 10-20 teams on his no-trade list. Those teams would be in same boat.
I'm not familiar with no-trade lists... so let me see if I understand. When he signed his contract, he put down a list of teams that he could deny being traded to? If so, then why not make it so that he has that option with every team in the league?
Hmm, team control is a great thing, but primarily for guys who are in their prime or about to hit their prime. Hamels turns 32 in a few months. I'm thinking his prime will be in the rear view mirror come next year. With his salary where it's at, whatever team trades for him will take on quite a bit of risk. Although he would be great this year, I wouldn't give up much in the line of prospects, unless Philly picks up some of the remainder owed on his contract.
Teams should be careful to spend too much just because Hamels just threw a no hitter, before that game, he was good but not great as Cueto or even Kazmir. The difference is he is under club control, but as you said, he is not in his prime, lets not forget Sabathia
That's just how it was negotiated. Being able to leverage that option year to all clubs would have decreased his trade value, so the club wanted to be able to trade him somewhere without his permission.
Agreed, unless we could get him on the cheap (very doubtful), I don't think he's worth trading decent prospects. We traded Roy Oswant to Philly when he was 32 years old. I doubt many remember his last couple years with Philly. He fell off a cliff shortly after that trade. Father time is undefeated!
What you say is true But IF and this is a big If, if you plan to add a free agent ace in the offseason anyway, the cost in dollars will likely be quite a bit higher than what Hamels will make
For first question, that is supposedly true which is quite common. There has been a report or two that there is not a no-trade list, so I put it at say 90% chance one exists. For second question, negotiation. Phillies wanted option to trade him unrestricted. He wanted trade restrictions. That is what he was able to get from Phillies at the price the Phillies offered.
If it were up to him, I'm sure he'd love to have every team on that list. However, the Phillies have to be able to work with some sort of freedom in terms of going out and seeking the best value for him. I'm sure there are rules regarding how many teams a NTC can consist of.
What you say is true But IF and this is a big If, if you plan to add a free agent ace in the offseason anyway, the cost in dollars will likely be quite a bit higher than what Hamels will make Combine that with having a legit chance to win it all this year And that's where the risk reward decision has to be made
Yes, but (to your last sentence), if we pick up a free agent in the offseason, we don't part ways with any prospects, particularly our valuable prospects (which is what I assume Philly wants)>
No, that is way too much. Hamels is not Pedro Martinez, and while his salary is reasonable, you are not getting him for that big a discount.... also, he is approaching his mid 30's.
