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Padres Rumors: The Padres Need Cole Hamels Now

By James Clark

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The power of Cole Hamels is mighty and the San Diego Padres front office needs to do whatever it takes to bring him back home to San Diego. We, as Padre Fans, are so excited right now. Justifiably so, as A.J. Preller has given us the much-needed offense we have been craving for years. Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Wil Myers, Will Middlebrooks and Derek Norris come with much-anticipated hype. The team will be able to put up the runs, now let’s take care of the starting pitching. Tyson Ross, Andrew Cashner and Ian Kennedy are solid pitchers, but what the Friars truly lack is that bulldog at the top of the rotation. All three existing pitchers are more than capable of being that guy, however, they each lack what Hamels brings to the table. CONSISTENCY. 

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Cashner, Ross and Kennedy were flat out dominant at times last year, but each also went through rough stretches. Those kinds of rough stretches can not happen come September and when the playoffs start. Cole Hamels has thrown 200 innings in six out of the last seven seasons. The only season he didn’t reach that number was 2009 when he threw 193.2 innings. Hamels is not a fire-baller by any means, he relies on his change-up and curveball a lot too. That bodes well for his future for those of you concerned about the finances of acquiring him. He is 31-years old, but being the type of pitcher he is, he can be a flat out monster for years and years to come.

By trading away Max Fried in a package for Justin Upton, the Padres are (to borrow a phrase from poker) pot committed. Upton is unfortunately a one-year rental, the writing is pretty much on the wall. With corner outfielders, Kemp and Myers signed till 2020, the Padres have two-thirds of their outfield in place for the next four years. The time to win is now! The team is built for 2015. The price tag for Hamels is reportedly ridiculously high from Phillies GM Ruben Amaro.

If they want prospects and are willing to eat some salary then give em’ what they want. If they want Wisler and Hedges, then so be it. The Padres are already committed to Derek Norris for the future so do they really need Hedges? Wisler is a nice pitcher, but starting pitchers are simply easier to replace.

I’m sure A.J. Preller is all over this, we can only hope. The bottom line is in a playoff series against the likes of Clayton Kershaw, Madison Bumgarner, Adam Wainwright and Max Scherzer, you want a pitcher who can match them inning-for-inning. Cole Hamels is the epitome of consistency and with a World Series MVP already under his belt, he is the pitcher you want on the bump when the season is on the line.

Next: Padres On The Periphery For James Shields

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