Yankees News: Brian Cashman Still Pursuing Cole Hamels?

With all the buzz surrounding the return of baseball, let’s not forget that Cole Hamels is still on the trade block. Despite plenty of interest from teams around the league, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has yet the deal the left-hander. However, recent reports indicate the the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres might make a play for the southpaw.

According to ESPN insider Jim Bowden, either the Yankees or Padres might acquire Cole Hamels in the not-so-distant future. Bowden’s No.1 prediction on his annual rendition of 10 Bold Predictions for the baseball season is that “Cole Hamels will be traded to the New York Yankees and not the Boston Red Sox.” A pair of poor opening starts from both Masahiro Tanaka and C.C. Sabathia and all the injury related question marks surrounding the Yankees starting rotation have certainly added more fuel to the fire on this specific rumor, putting more pressure on Brian Cashman to get a deal done.

Interestingly enough, even if Tanaka and Sabathia manage to bounce back and can remain healthy in 2015, Bowden still believes that the Yankees will pursue Hamels.

"“The Red Sox have the best farm system of the interested teams but to date have balked at including either Mookie Betts or Blake Swihart in a package to land him,” Bowden noted in his prediction. “That position is unlikely to change, and if the Yankees are still in the pennant race come July, and Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda remain healthy, then I predict Yanks general manager Brian Cashman will do what he doesn’t want to do and trade two of his top prospects to land Hamels, which could propel the Bronx Bombers to an October playoff game.”"

Despite getting off to a shaky 1-4 start to the season, I still think Bowden’s prediction is realistic. However, I only think a deal will get done if the Phillies lower their demands. Brian Cashman has made it clear that the organization is adamant on getting younger and building up their farm system, so it’ll be interesting to see which prospects, if any, will be enough to land Hamels.

Regardless of whatever direction the Yankees are headed in this season, I urge you guys to follow this story closely. You just never know when it comes to the Steinbrenner family.

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