In all actuality Hamels has no say on a Rangers trade. His no trade clause gives him the right to block trades to 20 teams. Rangers are not one of the teams on that list.
That contradicts why he'd be willing to go to the Rangers then. It's definitely something to do with the organization and perhaps the park itself. However, it could also be the Phillies posturing in order to get a better deal out of us.
I'm not sure - if I were the Astros, before I went through all the trouble to actually figure out a trade that might work for both teams, I would want to know if Hamels was willing to come here first. So it may be that the Astros were progressing along but got to the point of making a specific offer.
It is mostly about Cole and his agent wanting his 2019 club option picked up and the Astros not willing to commit to doing so. Cole will end up with a team that guarantees that 2019 club option.
At this point, I'm hoping we can swing a deal for Cueto. He'd cost less since he's a rental, plus he might even end up being the better get.
Oh, I totally forgot about that little snippet. It makes complete sense why the Astros wouldn't want to be on the hook for that salary 4 years from now. That further enhances my belief that Cueto should be the guy we go after.
According to a source close to the situation, Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels would block any possible trade to the Houston Astros if the teams were to strike a deal before the trade deadline. http://www.khou.com/story/sports/20...-hamels-would-block-trade-to-astros/29139973/ No trade was on the table.
Listening to Dallas Sports radio, it would take Gallo, Alfado, and or Chi Chi to get it done plus would need the Phillies to kick in money to help pay Hamel's salary. The guys on the station were saying they would be hesitant on doing that deal. Also saw this: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Interesting <a href="https://twitter.com/SandlerJ">@SandlerJ</a> is on Innes/Bruno, and says Rangers won't part with Gallo, but any other name could be on the table for Hamels.</p>— Blake Plaster (@BpSportsGuy) <a href="https://twitter.com/BpSportsGuy/status/613445313064407043">June 23, 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) Elvis wouldn't be a part of it. B) Rua last played SS in college. He's not an everyday SS. Gallo: no. <a href="https://t.co/z9M6ARDNfh">https://t.co/z9M6ARDNfh</a></p>— Jared Sandler (@SandlerJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/SandlerJ/status/613406967206293504">June 23, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Is that what he reported, though? He said Hamels "has blocked (for now) any possible trade..." (emphasis mine) Semantics, perhaps - but that "any," IMO, suggests Hamels told the Phillies Houston was off the table and to not bother. Admittedly, it's just vague enough to go either way, but that's how I read it.
Awful fans? You couldn't pay people to go to an Astros game two years ago. Astros fans of all fans are the last that should be talking smack about any other fan base. From what I remember the Astros had a 0.00 Nielsen rating a couple of years ago. I understand Comcast had something to do with that but even the people with access to the Astros didn't watch. The Rangers are a first class organization and at least have won a game in the World Series. We didn't get swept like you.
Hard to disagree until the last couple sentences. Hiring a coke addict manager, trading for a substance abusing player (twice), and signing the most notorious scumbag of a roider to the most ludicrous contract in sports history alone disqualifies you as being a "first class organization". Sorry. And I'd rather get swept in a world series than be a part of the second biggest World Series choke job in history.
Dude I live in Dallas and it used to be so empty at the ballpark. I would put two ranger tickets on someone's windshield to give them away and after coming back, found 6 of them on that windshield. Also Josh Hamilton himself said that Dallas/Arlington wasn't a baseball town.
It is first and foremost a football town but is more of a baseball town now. Ownership blew it by giving too much power to Daniels and driving away Nolan.
Do not want Hamels . On the wrong side of 30 and the price tag is too high . I do not expect the astros to contend this season anyways . Our pitching will probably regress and correa will go through some rough patches .Also McCullers and Velasquez will definitely have innings limits. Our pitching depth in the minors is insane . I look forward to next year .