For months all we’ve heard about is a potential Cole Hamels trade to either the Boston Red Sox or Los Angeles Dodgers. And on the surface, such made sense considering both baseball franchises have deep pockets and developed minor league talent.
But perhaps there’s a new dark horse emerging in the race for a Cole Hamels trade. Can you guess who? Probably not, because it’s the Houston Astros who are the most recent suitor for a Cole Hamels trade.
Yes, those Houston Astros, who currently lead the AL West.
The Houston Astros, surprise early first-place residents in the AL West, could pull a trade surprise, as well. The Astros are targeting a top-of-the-rotation starter, and while Cole Hamels probably remains something of a long shot for them, executives familiar with their thinking suggest Hamels remains on their radar, with Astros great Nolan Ryan said to be a big fan of his.
Rumors came out earlier this week suggesting the Philadelphia Phillies are open to paying more money on Hamels’ hefty salary and the Astros certainly have enough youth to make such a deal possible. Still, as noted by CBS, it’s still a long shot that anything goes down regarding a Phillies and Astros trade.
Still, it’s worth keeping an eye on.
