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Padres News: Cole Hamels Breaks His Silence

By James Clark

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Well it has finally happened, Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies has broken his silence. After being the center of trade rumors for months, Hamels spoke to Bob Nightengale of USA today. He said “I just want to win. That’s all. That’s all any competitor wants. And I know its not going to happen here. This isn’t what I expected. It’s not what the Phillies expected, either. But it’s reality.”

If I’m Ruben Amaro, I better get off my high horse. It’s evident that Hamels is not happy being dangled around the league, and he deserves to be treated better. Cole Hamels was the 2008 World Series MVP, to leave him in limbo this long about a potential trade is truly classless.

As a veteran Major League pitcher, the last thing you want is to be looking over your shoulder, wondering when and if your time is up. A clean break is always the best transition when dismantling a team and rebuilding. The Phillies need the new talent acquired from a potential trade to be in camp now. If they truly want to compete in the next few seasons, the rebuilding process needs to begin. Hanging on to veteran players that are biter about the situation, can set a franchise back for seasons on end.

The San Diego Padres remain patient, sitting back waiting till the price tag on Hamels comes down to earth. AJ Preller knew the whole time that Amaro was playing a baseball general manager form of chicken. Cole Hamels is a very good pitcher, now let me correct that…. He is great. However, his value is dictated by what someone will pay for him, not what you think he’s worth.

Obviously Phillies GM Ruben Amaro has his sights set high for a package of blue chip prospects. That’s just not going to happen, not from the Padres not from the Boston Red Sox. Teams are well aware that a slew of top-of-the-rotation type pitchers are free agents after this season. The likes of David Price, Mat Latos, Jeff Samardzija, Jordan Zimmerman, Johnny Cueto, Doug Fister, Tim Lincecum, Ian Kennedy, Rick Porcello and Bartolo Colon all becoming free agents. With that huge list of pitchers, the Trade Deadline in July will be a feeding frenzy. Does Ruben Amaro think he will get top dollar then? Sure, Hamels is signed long-term, but franchises will take the cheaper short-term fix. Guaranteed.

In the report Wednesday it also indicated the Padres offered both Austin Hedges and Hunter Renfroe and the Phillies rejected it. I really don’t know how much more they want? Or for that matter how much more the Padres are willing to pay. It’s a delicate situation that obviously is starting to irk Cole Hamels. He would not have spoken out unless he was slightly peeved by the debacle. 

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Cole Hamels even went as far as to say that he is “checking the internet for the latest.” If you ask me that is a sign of a pitcher who can’t wait to get out-of-town. In speaking about the Phillies and winning, Hamels remarked “And I know it’s not going to happen here.” That right there is a ticking time bomb. A competitor like Hamels needs to have a squad behind him ready to compete. In his opinion the Phillies do not have that squad. You really want your ace unhappy with the state of your team?

Things are sure to come to a boiling point in Philadelphia eventually. I honestly believe after reading what Hamels had to say today, the Phillies have no alternative but to move him. They have Cliff Lee and Ryan Howard as well on the payroll, so the Phillies have much work to do. They are better off beginning their reclamation project now, then to push things into another season of turmoil.

Stay tuned Padres fans, as AJ Preller is still surely interested in Hamels. Reports surfaced last week that the Padres were interested in James Shields and Cole Hamels both. The signing of Shields does not totally close the door on a possible deal for Cole Hamels. This whirlwind of an offseason acquisition rampage might just not be over yet.

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