OnlyBucs

634F47404B6C5B4D5D2E0 wrote: While ERA is not the be all and end all for stats, Hamels' ERA is now 3.48.  He is expensive, but he has a limit on the number of years the Pirates would be committed to him; only this year and next.  He is a lefty, which the Pirates desperately need in their rotation, and he is still has a reasonable strike-out rate.   While he is giving up a few too many HR's, 9 to date, Texas is  a difficult park in which to pitch.



The Rangers and Pirates will both need to do something to decrease the salary concerns; Texas wants to shed salary and the Bucs will not want to take on too much salary.  Thus, I believe SyrBucco's suggestion makes the most amount of sense.



Bucs send Nova to Texas to reduce the salary gap.  Bucs also send some good but not top tier prospects to Texas.   I would try a package of Osuna, Reynolds (know that he is hurt), Hearn and perhaps Clay Holmes. 



Bucs would pay all of Hamels 2018 salary, but would ask Texas to pay $3,000,000 mil or so of his 2019 salary.   This could be workable for the Pirates because of the loss of Nova's salary next year and because most of the rest of the starting pitchers will be making near the major league minimum. 



Also understand that Hamels would need to agree to a trade to Pittsburgh and that he may want some money to get there.  Texas should be responsible for such.



My package of prospects may be a bit light, but Reynolds has some real upside and Osuna appears to be someone well suited for the AL.      Oh well, just a thought.      


Here is the problem.  Hamels went to Texas thinking they were going to compete and win.  Thinking they were going to make the necessary moves to compete.  Do you honestly think Cole Hamels would accept a deal to Pittsburgh knowing that moves won't be made. I don't.

Well if the Pirates want Hamels and are trying to trade for him ....That in itself is a big move so maybe he would come to Pittsburgh. Hell players and people in general all want to be wanted. Texas is a disaster right now with a bunch of guys hitting 200 and all trying to hit home runs. This could be AJ type situation all over again .We could do this trade if the bucs wanted to take on some money.

AL teams wont want Nova ...They have seen him. But I could see, Keller and some money . MLB rumors said Rangers want top prospects for top players but they will need to add $$$. Hell Glasnow is worthless now but was gold just a few years back, but now Keller who has done nothing is a blue chipper. Give me  2 years of Cole for six years of Keller all day.

7348424965210 wrote: Well if the Pirates want Hamels and are trying to trade for him ....That in itself is a big move so maybe he would come to Pittsburgh. Hell players and people in general all want to be wanted. Texas is a disaster right now with a bunch of guys hitting 200 and all trying to hit home runs. This could be AJ type situation all over again .We could do this trade if the bucs wanted to take on some money.


Trading for Hamels goes against the Pirates mentality. Texas wants a good set of prospects, nut suspects for him. NH won't dare trade any prospects for help, good ones.

No way would I include Keller (or Meadows) for Hamels.



Hamels biggest issue is that he is 34 years old and due at least $20 million for half a season.

7B70787471706B2E285F667E777070317C701F0 wrote: No way would I include Keller (or Meadows) for Hamels.



Hamels biggest issue is that he is 34 years old and due at least $20 million for half a season.


I agree with Dog on this. Heck...I don't think Hamels would actually be that big of an upgrade. People have been soured on prospects due to Polanco and Glasnow struggling. But, every all star was a prospect once. Keller could certainly flop. But Hamels isn't the guy whose going to get this team a WS or even into the playoffs. Hamels is a decent pitcher, but I'd say that at this stage of his career, he's nothing more than a mid-level starter. We aren't talking Kershaw or Scherzer here. No way you give up a top 100 prospect for that.

715541494C200 wrote: While it's fun to envision the addition of a quality starter like Cole Hamels to the Pirates it is surely a pipedream. In addition to Hamels' salary which would likely be enough to curdle the milk in Bob Nutting's cereal bowl, Hamels also has a limited no trade clause in his contract. According to an article in The Athletic:



"Hamels, however, can be traded to only nine teams without his permission — the Mariners, Cardinals, Nationals, Astros, Cubs, Phillies, Braves, Royals, and Rays, according to MLB Network’s Jon Paul Morosi."
----

This takes over the lead for Post of the Year in 2018

Hamels will go somewhere else and we will end up with Homer Bailey.

75656453454549260 wrote: Hamels will go somewhere else and we will end up with Homer Bailey.
that's silly.