In the final week of April we found out who the four Cole Hamels candidates were (Cardinal, Dodgers, Padres, Red Sox). We now know that the ideal candidates are the Red Sox and Dodgers, primarily because they have the 2nd & 3rd best farm systems in the MLB, which is an area the Phillies clearly need to replenish.
Both teams can offer highly-touted outfielders and catchers, two areas the Phillies seem to be the most interested in retooling off the bat. All signs are pointing heavily in favor of the Sox because there are still talks in potentially packaging both Hamels and Red Sox ex-closer Jonathan Papelbon.
As mentioned the Sox starting rotation posted the league’s worst ERA in the month of April and continue to find themselves struggling, after being swept by their arch nemesis New York Yankees, this past weekend. Their current closer, Koji Uehara was off to a rough, has turned things around since the first two weeks, however it’s been reported that his velocity continues to decrease, and he also finds himself most likely in the final stages of his career after turning 40 years of age last month.
This may be the perfect opportunity for the Red Sox to re-unite with their highly coveted closer of the past, who is off to a stellar start. In ten attempts he has recorded five saves with an ERA of .087, 11 K’s and a WHIP of .0.77. Love him or hate him, he’s been phenomenal, unfortunately the Phillies as a whole have not.
Tags: Baseball, Blake Swihart, Boston Red Sox, Cole Hamels, Cole Hamels Trade Rumors, Joe Buscemi, Jonathan Papelbon, MLB, MLB Trade Rumors, Mookie Betts, Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Sports News, Phillies Rumors, Phillies Trade Rumors, TalkSportsPhilly, Twitter
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