Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
There is little doubt that St. Louis Cardinals GM John Mozeliak picked up the phone and called his Philadelphia Phillies counterpart Ruben Amaro Jr. to inquire about the services of Cole Hamels in the offseason, but those talks never led anywhere. Now that Adam Wainwright is likely out for the season, however, it is time for Mozeliak to get serious about Hamels.
Even though the Cardinals’ current rotation boasts a major-league-best 1.97 ERA through 16 games with Michael Wacha at 1.33, Carlos Martinez at 1.35 and Lance Lynn at 1.56, all of those pitchers are right-handers. Hamels, 31, would provide a nice lefty counterpart at the top of the rotation.
Now that there is an increased sense of urgency, the Cardinals should offer at least two top-level prospects for him and see if the Phillies will bite. Other teams have more to offer the Phillies, so maybe the Wainwright injury will have a domino effect and drive up his price. The Cardinals, though, have an immediate need for a premier starter.
Left-hander Jaime Garcia is expected to be out until at least June as he recovers from inflammation in his left shoulder. Lefty Marco Gonzales, the Cardinals’ No. 6 starter, is on the Triple-A disabled list. The Cardinals need Hamels now and if they really want to make noise in October, two top-level prospects are not too much to give up.
Mike Gibson is a Phillies writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @papreps , “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
