It's the same difference. He can unblock a trade to Houston. If we have a better offer on the table, he's choosing to go to large Rangers over the Astros.
Right. But there has to be a point where Luhnow stops if he is iffy on Hamels even wanting to play here. But is a hindrance when it comes to how much we will offer. Rangers don't have to worry about that.
Ace number 3 to your rotation for 3 guys who are question marks in to being every day MLB players. I take that every day of the week BRO!
Understood. My comment was more of a way of saying that Correa will be one of the best players in the league for years to come. If Hamels don't want to play with him, I hope he goes to Texas, so that Correa can terrorize him for making such a stupid decision.
I sincerely doubt the A's make Gray available. There hasn't even been talk of him being on the market. I think they're looking at Gray as their rebuilding piece.
I don't see how this would be the case. Hamels doesn't become more likely to waive his no-trade clause, the more Luhnow is willing to give to the Phillies. We're either beating the Rangers' offer, and the Phillies are then asking him to waive it, or we aren't. The degree to which we're beating it has no bearing on anything.
Gray is easily worth those 3 prospects. When you are talking about one of the best pitchers in the game...age 25...then 3 dudes who have yet to put on a MLB jersey should not hinder you from making such a trade. It's a moot point because no way the A's even consider that trade.
Actually it does. If Astros are beating the offer by a lot, Phillies could say they'll pay the entire option year to get Hamels to accept trade.
You're correct to an extent, but I think the Astros' offer has some bearing on how the Phillies react. I don't think what the Astros offer will sway Hamels' decision whatsoever. However, if the Phillies come to the Astros and say, "Look, Cole is on the fence about going there. If you guys really send us an offer we can't refuse, then we'll go to work for you and try and convince him that Houston ain't so bad.", then perhaps the Astros would sweeten the pot a little bit.
y'all are talking about two different things here, but i don't think luhnow would consider overpaying to the degree where your scenario would be in play.
I think you're right in that regard. However, I do think Luhnow is targeting starting pitchers that would allow the Astros to have team control at least for next season. I doubt he wants to enter free agency with 2 starting pitchers potentially walking away.
I was responding to your sentence. Would not necessarily be an overpay if the Astros use guys that might be lost in Rule 5 (so tempted to put V there) to sweeten the pot.
Drench but I'll still post. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Source: the Astros remain in the Cole Hamels race but the expectation remains he will land elsewhere.</p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/status/626453671744634881">July 29, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I'm sure if we asked, Beane would ask if we were starting the conversation with Correa, Springer, Keuchel, Altuve. There is a good chance he'd turn down Correa if he didn't come with some sweetener. Keep in mind the A's traded Addison Russell (who was considered pretty even with Carlos Correa in prospect rankings), Dan Straily and Billy McKinney (a B-level prospect) for 1.5 seasons of Jeff Samardzija & half season of Jason Hammel
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rival evaluators think SD could have flurry of deals in next 48 HRs, or high volume deals, w/impending FAs--Upton, Kennedy, Benoit, Venable.</p>— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/626456964705468416">July 29, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Benoit at least plz
Too much being "leaked" about Hamels to trust either way... most completed deals happen without much stuff being heard about it right before it happens. Price, Leake, Shields all still possibilities.
