Padres Rumors: Myers To Philly For Hamels?

Earlier in the month, I mentioned how the Padres were one of the teams interested in Cole Hamels. Well, they have surprised the baseball world all off-season with their big moves for Matt Kemp, Wil Myers and Justin Upton. Well, if the Padres get Hamels, according to Philly.com, Myers would be the center of the deal.

The Padres have had discussions about trading for San Diego native Cole Hamels with new outfielder Wil Myers as potential bait, according to a baseball source

Considering that the Padres right now have three big corner outfielders and have dealt a lot of their pitching depth in their recent trades, and with Ian Kennedy a free agent after the season, it does give the Padres some protection.

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It would also give the Padres a nice rotation of Hamels, Kennedy, Tyson Ross and Andrew Cashner. This way, they don’t have to rely on Brandon Morrow and Josh Johnson as much in the rotation considering neither can stay healthy.

Hamels is due $90 million over the next four years with a $20 million club option or $6 million buyout for 2019.  Hamels is from San Diego and will turn 31 this coming Saturday.

According to UT-San Diego’s Dennis Lin, the Myers for Hamels deal is premature.

Indications from sources within the organization, however, are that the Padres intend on playing all three of their newest outfielders, including Myers. The early plan is for the 2013 American League Rookie of the Year to start in center field, flanked by fellow power-hitting right-handers Justin Upton and Matt Kemp.Of course, considering Preller’s recent level of activity and the hour-to-hour nature of the offseason, the situation could always change. But the Padres view Myers as a long-term piece, which is why they gave up top prospects Joe Ross and Trea Turner in Thursday’s three-team trade with the Rays and the Nationals

So the question the Padres may be trying to answer is four for $90 with an option for Hamels plus giving up the players like Myers and others, or spend something like $100 mill for five years on James Shields who just turned 33?

With Preller, it certainly appears anything can happen. The offense is upgraded. Now let’s see if the pitching is too.