Yankees Rumors: Trading for Cole Hamels doesn’t seem feasible

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic recently announced that the Texas Rangers are ready to deal, which led many to wonder if Cole Hamels would be a fit for the Yankees.

Shortly after Ken Rosenthal broke the news about the potential Rangers’ rebuild, Bob Nightengale of USA Today named the five likeliest landing spots for 34-year-old lefthander, Cole Hamels. The list included four NL teams; Brewers, Cubs, Phillies, Diamondbacks — and one AL club; the Yankees.

On the season, Hamels, who is currently dealing with a bout of neck stiffness is 2-4 with a 3.48 ERA, 1.277 WHIP and 57:21 K:BB ratio in 51.2 innings pitched.

With fellow southpaw, Jordan Montgomery likely out until sometime in July and right-hander Domingo German coming off only his second career MLB start (5 IP, 3 BB, 6 H, 6 ER) versus the A’s, the Yankees are already being linked with a number of starting pitchers long before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

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Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports went so far as to not only name Hamels as a possibility to the Yanks, but also include the likes of Chris Archer, Michael Fulmer, Danny Duffy and Madison Bumgarner; though, Mad Bum will admittedly be extremely difficult to acquire from the Giants.

As for Hamels, at this juncture in the season and his Rangers already sitting all alone in last place at 18-28 in the AL West, a sell-off of their most attractive assets is looming.

Set to make the remainder of $22.5 million this season and $20 million in 2019 (a $6 million buyout does exist), the Rangers would need to eat a large chunk of Hamels’ salary if he were to actually waive his no-trade clause to the Yankees. Well, that and take back Jacoby Ellsbury in return (I’m kidding, but I wish I weren’t).

The Yanks first expressed interest in Hamels back in 2015 when he was still a member of the Phillies. Perhaps his career postseason 3.48 ERA had something to do with it.

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Should the stars align, and the Yankees were to acquire Hamels, a package of mid-level prospects with money exchanging hands should be more than enough to seal the deal. In no way, shape or form should players like Clint Frazier, Miguel Andujar or Domingo German come up in potential trade discussions.