Looking at the current situation, the Philadelphia Phillies have two options to trade current ace Cole Hamels: the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. Smaller market teams are hesitant to deal prospects and absorb a large contract. Therefore, a larger market team like the Red Sox and Yankees would be the two teams willing to make a move. Boston makes more sense than the Yankees, but let's take a look at potential trades for both teams.
The New York Yankees would receive
pitcher Cole Hamels
The Philadelphia Phillies would receive
pitcher Ian Clarkin
outfielder Aaron Judge
second baseman Rob Refsnyder
catcher Gary Sanchez
This trade would allow the Phillies to boast a starting line-up that would include:
C Gary Sanchez
1B Cody Asche
2B Rob Refsnyder
SS Freddy Galvis
3B Maikel Franco
LF Aaron Altherr
CF Kelly Dugan
RF Aaron Judge
With current bad contracts to aging veterans and a relatively quiet off-season (at least by Yankees standards), the Yankees appear to have finally realized the times have changed. More and more teams, especially smaller market teams such as the Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates, have signed their young core of players to team friendly contracts in exchange for financial security. This trade would essentially rob the Yankees of their minor league league depth (and their best prospects) for two solid years of Hamels. Would the Yankees pull the trigger on such a deal? Two or three years ago? Yes. In 2015? No.
Boston Red Sox would acquire
pitcher Cole Hamels
catcher Carlos Ruiz
$5 million
Philadelphia Phillies would acquire
pitcher Henry Owens
outfielder Jackie Bradley, Jr.
second baseman Deven Marrero
catcher Christian Vazquez
pitcher Brian Johnson
This trade makes sense on so many levels. First, it allows Philadelphia to trade aging veterans for young talent in a franchise clearly headed towards rebuilding mode. Secondly, with Boston determined not to trade catcher Blake Swihart, Christian Vazquez could be expendable. Although, he will certainly miss all of 2015 recovering from Tommy John surgery, Vazquez could be a nice, young catcher who has a clearer path with the Phillies. Third, Boston perhaps has more depth in the minors then any other team in the majors. Fourth, it allows the Phillies to acquire a pair of young arms in Owens and Johnson to go with Aaron Nola and Zach Eflin.
From the Red Sox perspective, acquiring Ruiz, along with $5 million to help pay for the remainder of his 2015 salary and a portion of his $8.5 million 2016 salary, would allow Swihart more time to develop in minors without being rushed too quickly. Boston could then platoon Ruiz with Ryan Hanigan until 2017. If Swihart is deemed ready for 2016, then the Red Sox could trade Ruiz and cash, or Hanigan, elsewhere for a prospect. Trading Jackie Bradley, Jr. clears a potential logjam in the outfield with Mookie Betts, Hanley Ramirez, Shane Victorino, and Rusney Castillo. It would also give the Red Sox a clear cut ace it sorely needs in their starting rotation.
The Phillies starting line-up could look something like this:
C Christian Vazquez
1B Cody Asche
2B Deven Marrero
SS Freddy Galvis
3B Maikel Franco
LF Aaron Altherr
CF Jackie Bradley, Jr.
RF Kelly Dugan
If the Phillies were to obtain a haul of prospects in either case, it would be a major win for a team in the midst of rebuilding years.
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