faux 'insider analysis.' Translation: 1. "Astros remain in the Cole Hamels Race" = everyone else is reporting this and so will I. Nothing lost by restating the obvious. Hey, I write about baseball too! look at me! 2. "but the expectation remains he will land elsewhere" = I have no idea where he will land and have zero insight. Nobody tells me nothing. However, in case he goes to the Astros, I can say that I said "they were in the race," so I'm right. In the event he goes to one of the other 28 teams, I've appropriately caveated the scenario. So I'm also right. Follow me on twitter I know stuff.
Will be interesting to see who the Astros try and get. Might just wait it out until FA. David Price has become quite the mercenary. LOL
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hearing from teams in the Cole Hamels hunt that if he gets traded, it likely won't happen until at least Thursday. Possibly deadline day</p>— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) <a href="https://twitter.com/jaysonst/status/626466161639714816">July 29, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Tim Kurkjian (2:31:42) I don't see that one fellas. I get how much Houston could use Hamels and the boost [he'd be] to their playoff hopes and October. However, without being on that original list, it's not likely he'll say "[I'm] going to Houston" and I don't think they'll give up the three players it'll take to get him. They still have a plan to build a certain way and as much as he'd help, he would really change their salary structure and plan so I'm saying he won't end up in Houston. One of those bigger market teams are more in place to get a deal for him.
That tells me the best deal is from Houston or another team on his no trade list. The Phillies are giving themselves 48 hours to convince Hamels to waive his no trade clause and/or bluff a Hamels desired team into a better offer, taking whichever happens first. This is looking more like Hamels stays put because Phillies can't accept less than market value and the teams he's willing to go to don't have to make this move now.
It's possible the Astros have moved on with Philadelphia feeding the media with Hamels rumors to drive up other offers.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tigers?src=hash">#Tigers</a> called teams today & told them they're "rebooting." Will listen on David Price, Cespedes etc. More to come at <a href="http://t.co/gtnhE81RUu">http://t.co/gtnhE81RUu</a></p>— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) <a href="https://twitter.com/jaysonst/status/626474889235591168">July 29, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash">#Dodgers</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rangers?src=hash">#Rangers</a> appear to be front runners now for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Phillies?src=hash">#Phillies</a> Hamels, but <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash">#Dodgers</a> still waiting on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tigers?src=hash">#Tigers</a> Price</p>— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) <a href="https://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/626476584057221120">July 29, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
3 prospects isnt the farm though. The farm, in relation to the Astros system, is equal to 15-20 prospects.
Three players that have have a combined expected WAR for their club controlled years less than the expected WAR for Sonny Gray over the remainder of his contract is something you should be willing to give up.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">David Price market will include : <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash">#Dodgers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yankees?src=hash">#Yankees</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Giants?src=hash">#Giants</a></p>— Jim Bowden (@JimBowden_ESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimBowden_ESPN/status/626477827030941696">July 29, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yoenis Cespedes market should include: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Orioles?src=hash">#Orioles</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Angels?src=hash">#Angels</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Twins?src=hash">#Twins</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mets?src=hash">#Mets</a></p>— Jim Bowden (@JimBowden_ESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimBowden_ESPN/status/626478160138342401">July 29, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Teams that could be involved in Price bidding include: Cubs, Yankees, Giants, Dodgers, Astros. Gentlemen, start your prospect lists.</p>— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/626479025771429889">July 29, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Price is biggest piece. Could hurt <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Phillies?src=hash">#Phillies</a> attempt to get Hamels done. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yankees?src=hash">#Yankees</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash">#Dodgers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bluejays?src=hash">#Bluejays</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sfgiants?src=hash">#Sfgiants</a> are Price mkt</p>— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) <a href="https://twitter.com/Joelsherman1/status/626479211247702017">July 29, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Once again, it will <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash">#Dodgers</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yankees?src=hash">#Yankees</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash">#BlueJays</a> as finalists for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tigers?src=hash">#Tigers</a> David Price, with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> as a long-shot.</p>— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) <a href="https://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/626480373250179072">July 29, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
If the player you are acquiring is a star with room to grow and under team control, you move what's necessary to make that happen. For every pitcher like Gray, there are 10 Tim Redding prospects that fans don't want to trade for fear they'll become great. I understand not backing up the Brinks truck of prospects on Hamels but there are players in this league you go get without blinking and just trust your player development folks to restock the system.
Only if that also included Cespedes and their competitive balance pick. That kind of offer should be reserved for young players under team control. I really hope they go back to giving draft pick compensation to teams who lose free agents even if they only had them for less than half a season. I think that really hurts the trade market and puts too much power in the teams with lots of money to spend.
