For those fitting Cole Hamels for pinstripes, remember the Yankees are among the 21 teams on his no-trade list, as first reported by MLB.com’s Jon Morosi. Hamels indicated to The Post’s Kevin Kernan this week that he would be open to the Yankees, but noted the no-trade list gives him “more bargaining power.”
In July 2015, Hamels used the no-trade to indicate his uncertainty about a potential deal to the Astros, which led to the Phillies focusing on a deal with the Rangers that ultimately was culminated.
The Phillies and Braves are not on the list, and thus could acquire Hamels without his permission. Both, like the Yankees, have deep farm systems. The Phillies were Hamels’ original team and the belief is he liked playing there.
The Angels and Dodgers, like the Yankees, are on Hamels’ no-trade list, but the veteran lefty is from Southern California and there could be an allure for home. The Angels’ farm system is not as stacked as those of the Yankees, Braves and Phillies. The Dodgers also have a strong system.
Ultimately, the strongest allure for Hamels could be what team/stadium/league sets him up best for free agency. He has a $20 million option for 2019 with a $6 million buyout, and thus has to be thinking what environment helps him on the open market.
Also, he could — for example — tell a team on the list such as the Yankees that he will accept a trade if it picks up his option or extends him.
Fool’s ‘Gold’
The Diamondbacks and Rockies were feel-good stories last season, emerging as wild cards despite both being in the NL West, a division they shared with the 104-win Dodgers. Arizona made the playoffs for the first time since 2011, Colorado for the first time since 2009.
And 30 percent into this season, they are the top two teams in the West. Yet feel-good has been replaced by a sense of squandered opportunity. The Dodgers unexpectedly got off to a miserable start and were still trying to work through it at 21-27. But the Diamondbacks and Rockies have missed the chance to bury the Dodgers.
To begin Wednesday, all five teams in the NL West were within 6½ games. The Dodgers were 4½ back (despite having the NL’s fourth-worst record) and the Giants two back and due to get Madison Bumgarner back soon.
Arizona and Colorado have failed to seize the moment for multiple reasons. Let’s focus on one each.
The Diamondbacks have gone 4-16 after a 21-8 start mainly because their offense has been atrocious. Could it be the humidor installed this year since Chase Field had been the third-highest run-scoring stadium over the past three years and is 23rd in 2018? Or is it the players?
Paul Goldschmidt had not hit like a three-time, top-three MVP finisher. Arizona’s best hitter this season, A.J. Pollock, is on the DL, as is key newcomer Steven Souza. No secondary player has really stepped up, and thus even before losing 9-2 Thursday to the Brewers, the D’backs were averaging the second-fewest runs (3.4), had the majors’ lowest batting average (.215) and had an OPS 25 percent less than the MLB average when factoring league and park.
The second-worst was Colorado (22 percent below league average). The Rockies had been the rare team to spend significantly on free agents each of the past two years, $211.5 million in all — and they are being killed by all those investments except Wade Davis. Ian Desmond, Carlos Gonzalez and Chris Iannetta are damaging the offense (combined .200 average, minus-1.2 WAR). Mike Dunn, Jake McGee and Bryan Shaw are undoing the pen (combined 6.20 ERA, minus-1.2 WAR).