Price would probably be a rental. (But if you are OK with that, then hey, why not? Go for it.) Hamels is not. But that whole issue of Hamels accepting a trade here. But they appear to be a long shot on both.
So, buddy from Detroit calls me this morning. No idea if this has any factual accuracy, but he tells me that Tigers are making a run at Hamels and offering both Price and Cespedes. Tigers are confident that Cespedes will resign with Tigers this offseason. They want Hamels as their ace to make a run for the next couple years, delaying a rebuild. Supposedly Philly is talking with another team to get prospects they want (Astros?), but Hamels won't waive the no-trade with this team. So Philly feels they can get the prospects they want with Price and Cespedes more so than with Hamels, I.e, both price and Cespedes will be flipped to some other team(s) later this week by Philly. Interesting, no idea if it's true.
no way in hell for a rental. Trust Luhnow to restock without so many top picks? I trust him also, but with a good team, he won't have the extra money anymore to fill needs quickly and easily. If you go all out with the farm AND lose your ML player, you're left trying to fill both holes at the same time. 1 main piece (Appel?) + 1 solid piece (Singleton?) + 1 unknown (lower level guy? PTBNL? Kemp?) is the max I'd go on Price
I am as big on having a good system as anyone but at some point you have to consolidate and go for it. Not all of these 20 or so legit ML prospects will put on an Astros uniform at the big league level, simple as that. This is why you build a good system, to go after elite players like Price.
Stark: A lot of stuff going on not helping [the Phillies]. I think they'll get him traded but the stuff today hurts. Dodgers get Latos, Tigers decide they'll trade Price and none of that is good. You need desperation and teams feeling they need to do this. Dodgers are still interested but don't have to do anything now. Rangers? Nope.[2016] Red Sox? Nope. [2016] Cubs? Next year. Astros? I don't think he'll go there. The Astros were told a long time ago he won't go there and don't even try but here they are calling the Astros for offers. That tells you about the offers. Giants don't match up. DBacks won't empty their system. Cardinals checked in today. They're already in first place with great pitching. Leverage is slipping away. I still think they get him traded but not today and think it's Texas. A Phillie by the end of Friday? 10%. They're trying to get this done. Here's my prediction: they'll build a deal with Texas (Alfaro, Chi-Chi Gonzalez). If those two were in the package, they'd do well. A scout said he's the closest he's seen to Pudge. Chi-Chi is TOR talent. Two guys like that, they need to make a deal like that.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> hate to give up prized prospects for a rental, but understand that <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Price?src=hash">#Price</a> is a different story, and could pitch team to WS</p>— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) <a href="https://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/626490140316168196">July 29, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
What would be the chances of obtaining Price and then signing both him and Kazmir to a new deal beyond this season? I think that would definitely take care of the rotation for the next 4-5 years.
Man, the Phillies GM is so bad. I can't believe he hasn't been fired yet. I would be pissed if I was a Phillies fan. I don't think he has been dragging his feet but now that Price is on the market things have changed. I guess there are still enough buyers and someone will be more than happy to go after a controlled Hamels instead of Price but you have to think he has lost at least one or more suitors now that Price is so readily available. I think if you are the Astros, you forget Hamels and go hard after Price although I wouldn't give up more than 1 "star" prospect somewhat similar to our offer for Kazmir although Price is as proven as they come. He had the perfect storm for dealing Hamels right after his no-hitter but that window may have passed for that franchise changing deal now that Price is available.
While I've never thought getting someone now gave you a better chance of signing them I do think Price wants to find a place he would enjoy. With the atmosphere of our clubhouse, for some reason I have a strong feeling that if we get him, he stays
45 minutes earlier this idiot claimed the astros were "a long-shot". They are all in such a rush to spit out anything they can, that you eventually begin to realize that barely anything that most of them say has any substance.
Honest question, why would Hamels not want to be traded here? We have the looks to be a competitor for the rest of his career, or at least his prime years. Don't understand why he would turn that down. Maybe he just hates dirty cities
As long as you're willing to pay Price the going rate.... which is at least Scherzer money. He's already made it known that there will not be any "discounts" or choosing to take less to play in a certain place. Kazmir is possible. Highly doubt they'd be able to get both... but if they do pony up for that, will tell you a lot about what they feel is viable/projectable starting pitching in the minors (whatever is left there after the trades).
Yes, Philly has been dragging their feet. This is ongoing for at least a year right? So not only this deadline but last year's deadline plus the winter. But they're also going through transition. Who's running the show over there? Ruben Amaro? Pat Gillick? The newly-hired Andy MacPhail? Jayson Stark just said that Amaro won't be making this Hamels deal. Hold on to him 'til the winter? Not like the logjam will clear up then.: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Trading Hamels this offseason an option, too, but so much pitching available -- Price, Greinke, Cueto, Zim, Shark -- market may be worse.</p>— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/626492772384657408">July 29, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Kinda screwed the pooch here, although may still get something done but have themselves to blame.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">That would be <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> <a href="https://t.co/mkIimllBte">https://t.co/mkIimllBte</a></p>— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/626493495944069120">July 29, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Quoted tweet: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Could this be a Friday conversation? "Cole, we can trade you to a contender, but not one you prefer, or you can stay here. Your choice."</p>— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillShaikin/status/626492527512649728">July 29, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
A bunch of mental masturbation by Stark... he's "too close" to the Phillies to really see things objectively anymore. And now he's starting to panic with all scenarios looking like they won't get much for Hamels unless he waives the no-trade to Houston... which still doesn't strike me as the biggest hurdle, despite what the media/beat-writers would like you to believe (to be honest, this is the ONLY factual information they have... and they're running with it... even though the context of the Astros being on that no-trade list is entirely lost on them, and Luhnow would be highly unlikely to get this deep into discussions if he felt a player wouldn't accept a deal).
If we are able to keep him, we'd be getting a better, younger pitcher, at probably something close to 50% of the prospect haul we'd have to give up for Hamels, and then paying, what, $3-5MM/yr more than Hamels is getting? A chance I'd certainly be willing to take.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Could this be a Friday conversation? "Cole, we can trade you to a contender, but not one you prefer, or you can stay here. Your choice."</p>— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillShaikin/status/626492527512649728">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">That would be <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> <a href="https://t.co/mkIimllBte">https://t.co/mkIimllBte</a></p>— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/626493495944069120">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"><a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal">@Ken_Rosenthal</a> Written few times Astros put best deal on table and Phillies say do you want to there or spend rest of yr in hell?</p>— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) <a href="https://twitter.com/Joelsherman1/status/626494005224849408">July 29, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
