Cole Hamels

[A Swing and A Drive]

 

Cole Hamels, LHP Texas Rangers

 

2018 Stats:

109 IP 40BB 109K 4.36 ERA 1.34 WHIP

 

Past his prime but his change-up is still one of the Top 30 pitches in all of baseball.

 

2018 Contract: $22.5M

2019 Contact: Club Option for $20M with a $6M buyout.

 

Bottom line is he's overpriced and past his prime.

 

However, since a lot of Brewer fans don't want to part with our best prospects, I think Hamels could be a fine target that won't cost the moon.

 

His club option for next year could be a plus or a minus. There's some risk involved but I would pony up the $$ and pick up the option. If the Brewers are contending again next July, keep Hamels. If they are not, you have option to trade him off and restock the farm a bit with what you gave up.

 

While acquiring a cost, controlled young starter with ACE-like potential would be great, there is some risk involved that either someone like Marcus Stroman or Kevin Gausman could reach their potential before they even hit free agency.

 

With a veteran like Hamels, a contending team doesn't have to worry as much about enduring growing pains, just health.

 

If you look at the age of our current/future rotation, I think they could all learn something from a Vet like Cole, who's 34.

 

Chase Anderson age 30

Jhoulys Chacin age 30

Jimmy Nelson age 29

Brent Suter age 28

Zach Davies age 25

Brandon Woodruff age 25

Corbin Burnes age 23

Freddy Peralta age 22

and of course Junior Guerra age 33 (but he doesn't have the MLB experience like Hamels)

 

I do think that Rangers will receive some nice offers for him in spite of his price tag so the Brewers will have to give up something of value of course, but likely no blue-chip prospects.

 

Thoughts?

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I don't see him as any better than what we currently have. So what would be the point?

[A Swing and A Drive]

I personally think he would be our best starter and I'd hand him the ball to start a Wild Card Game with confidence.

 

So I guess that's my point.

 

I'm sure others may disagree.

[bill hAll Star]

I personally think he would be our best starter and I'd hand him the ball to start a Wild Card Game with confidence.

 

So I guess that's my point.

 

I'm sure others may disagree.

 

Depending on batting order, I'm probably handing Hader or Jeffress the ball to start that game. If not, Peralta or Guerra can start with a short leash. To me, that's superior than throwing out a guy with a high FIP/xFIP (to go along with poor ERA) that has been there for almost a full 2 years now.

[A Swing and A Drive]

The two starters you mentioned handing the ball to start a Wild Card game did not even start the year off in the Brewers rotation plans.

 

I love Freddy but that's a high pressure situation to throw any rookie into. And Guerra has been good this year but he's still to me a journeyman minor leaguer that shows inconsistency.

 

FYI, potential starters other contenders can start a Wild Card game with:

 

Nationals- Max Scherzer

Philies- Jake Arrietta

Braves- Julio Teheran or Mike Folty

Dodgers- Clayton Kershaw

Dbacks- Zack Greinke

Giants- Madison Bumgarner

Rockies- Kyle Freeland or Jon Gray

[bill hAll Star]

The two starters you mentioned handing the ball to start a Wild Card game did not even start the year off in the Brewers rotation plans.

 

I love Freddy but that's a high pressure situation to throw any rookie into. And Guerra has been good this year but he's still to me a journeyman minor leaguer that shows inconsistency.

 

FYI, potential starters other contenders can start a Wild Card game with:

 

Nationals- Max Scherzer

Philies- Jake Arrietta

Braves- Julio Teheran or Mike Folty

Dodgers- Clayton Kershaw

Dbacks- Zack Greinke

Giants- Madison Bumgarner

Rockies- Kyle Freeland or Jon Gray

 

Is there a rule stipulating that a team must try to get 100+ pitches out of their starter?

 

Do Josh Hader's pitches not work in the 1st, 2nd, or 4th inning?

 

We'd probably be at an advantage essentially playing with a DH while the Nats throw Scherzer for 7 innings.

 

Peralta goes 2 innings, Guerra goes 2, Hader 2, Burnes 1, Jeffress 1, Knebel 1 in any order. That's probably a better bet than Arrieta, Teheran, maybe Folty, Freeland, Gray, and on par with a lot of those other guys plus their bullpens. I'd throw a lot of money down on that combo being better than trying to push Cole Hamels into throwing 110 pitches.

 

If it goes into extra innings, you can throw Albers, Jennings, etc. out there and if you get to the 12th or 13th, then I guess you ride Chase Anderson for the rest of the night.

[trwi7]

FYI, potential starters other contenders can start a Wild Card game with:

 

Nationals- Max Scherzer

Philies- Jake Arrietta

Braves- Julio Teheran or Mike Folty

Dodgers- Clayton Kershaw

Dbacks- Zack Greinke

Giants- Madison Bumgarner

Rockies- Kyle Freeland or Jon Gray

 

All of whom are better than Cole Hamels now. So what's the point of trading prospects and spending a ton of money to get him?

[KCBrewerfan34]

Please no. if I know this is a no, I'm 99.9% sure DS knows this is a no

[A Swing and A Drive]

BillHall Star has an interesting proposition but I'm nearly certain that Counsell will not no that route, so...

[bill hAll Star]

BillHall Star has an interesting proposition but I'm nearly certain that Counsell will not no that route, so...

 

I would imagine that Counsell/Stearns are well aware of it. The Brewers are part of the revolution. They did it last year in Nelson's stead. The Rays are starting relievers every other game.

 

It's not necessarily a new idea for playoff games. In 2011, Cardinals starters only made it through the 5th one time in our 7 game series - Carpenter went 5.0. We'd just be tightening that up even more in the absence of an ace and maybe going 3-2-1-1-1-1 or something like that.

[reillymcshane]

BillHall Star has an interesting proposition but I'm nearly certain that Counsell will not no that route, so...

 

I would imagine that Counsell/Stearns are well aware of it. The Brewers are part of the revolution. They did it last year in Nelson's stead. The Rays are starting relievers every other game.

 

It's not necessarily a new idea for playoff games. In 2011, Cardinals starters only made it through the 5th one time in our 7 game series - Carpenter went 5.0. We'd just be tightening that up even more in the absence of an ace and maybe going 3-2-1-1-1-1 or something like that.

I wouldn't be surprised if we are in the situation we did something like this. If it plays to our strengths, it would be cool to try. Would we do? Why not. The Brewers do a lot of shifting. The Brewers have used Hader in a really unique and effective way. So to say Counsell wouldn't consider it seems incorrect.

[adambr2]

I personally think he would be our best starter and I'd hand him the ball to start a Wild Card Game with confidence.

 

So I guess that's my point.

 

I'm sure others may disagree.

 

You might want to look at his recent playoff history. Its brutal. He's just not very good anymore.

 

I don't understand the notion that young pitchers can't handle playoff pressure. I guarantee probably the most anxiety that Burnes or Peralta will feel in their entire careers is when they stepped onto an MLB mound for the first time, and both handled it with flying colors.

 

Hamels is no better option than anyone else in our rotation.

[long ball]

I have absolutely no interest in Hamels.

[bill hAll Star]

BillHall Star has an interesting proposition but I'm nearly certain that Counsell will not no that route, so...

 

I would imagine that Counsell/Stearns are well aware of it. The Brewers are part of the revolution. They did it last year in Nelson's stead. The Rays are starting relievers every other game.

 

It's not necessarily a new idea for playoff games. In 2011, Cardinals starters only made it through the 5th one time in our 7 game series - Carpenter went 5.0. We'd just be tightening that up even more in the absence of an ace and maybe going 3-2-1-1-1-1 or something like that.

I wouldn't be surprised if we are in the situation we did something like this. If it plays to our strengths, it would be cool to try. Would we do? Why not. The Brewers do a lot of shifting. The Brewers have used Hader in a really unique and effective way. So to say Counsell wouldn't consider it seems incorrect.

 

You leave yourself out to dry a bit if the game goes to extra innings but that's the gamble you take. It still is the best probability all around, though Stearns/Counsell will have Miller Park stormed on them if the Brewers lose a WC game in the 14th inning when they're stuck throwing Chase Anderson for extended innings as their last bullpen option and no pinch hitters. But that doesn't mean it was the wrong idea.

[brewmann04]

Most of the playoffs potential teams has that one arm that you feel good going for that big win the Crew still lacks that

[TURBO]

Just say NO to Cole Hamels, he offers nothing that we don't already have.

 

HARD PASS!

[mlloyd10]

Does profar or Odor come with?

[DHonks]

Sometimes guys like Hamels are rejuvenated by a trade. Most baseball fans on here ridiculed some of us last year for suggesting trying to get Verlander, saying he was done

[DocLuna7]

Hard pass on Hamels for the reasons already pointed out. Five years ago that would have been awesome but there’s no way he is that much better than what we already have. Also, practically speaking, pretty sure that he has Milwaukee on a no-trade list and that he would demand we exercise his $19m plus option for 2019. I want absolutely no part of that salary for next year and I doubt that David Stearns wants to handicap next year’s payroll with someone like Hamels either

[A Swing and A Drive]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/07/cole-hamels-trade-rumors-cubs-rangers.html

 

Looks like the Cubs are going to beat us to the punch once again.

[adambr2]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/07/cole-hamels-trade-rumors-cubs-rangers.html

 

Looks like the Cubs are going to beat us to the punch once again.

 

Good, I want absolutely nothing to do with Hamels.

[pacopete4]

Yeah this is another one I want to stay away from.

[brewmann04]

who do the cubs have left to trade

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/07/cole-hamels-trade-rumors-cubs-rangers.html

 

Looks like the Cubs are going to beat us to the punch once again.

 

Hamels is about the only potential "upgrade" that the Cubs can expect. Crappy, and on a huge expiring contract. You are the only one that apparently wants him on the Brewers, so there is really no punch to be beaten.

[Fear The Chorizo]

The Cubs would beat everyone to the punch on Hamels, because frankly I think other teams that have prospects of value available for starting pitching left the boxing ring before they even got their hands taped up. Likely that nobody else wants him and other big market teams who would typically have no issues taking on salary are tighter against this year's luxury tax limit.

 

If that deal winds up happening it'll look more like a salary dump than a prospect haul for the Rangers.

 

That being said, I totally get the interest from the Cubs - they need someone to eat innings even if they are giving up runs, and Hamels can do just that.