The Houston Astros are the biggest surprise in baseball, leading the American League West division as the season closes in on the All-Star break. The Astros are in the market for pitching upgrades, so Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels seems like a perfect fit.
To everyone but Hamels, that is.
Hamels must approve the team he is dealt to, and even though Houston has a promising core of talent Hamels is not expected to okay a trade there. The Astros and Blue Jays are both interested in Hamels, but both of those clubs were not on his list of acceptable trade destinations this offseason. Hamels seemed to back off not wanting to go to those teams in late June.
"I have not been approached. When I'm approached, then I can make a decision and provide an answer about a team," Hamels said. "But I'm open-minded on everybody and everything." When asked if that included Houston and Toronto, Hamels said "Yes. I've always been open-minded. I will think about everything."
When specifically asked about Houston, he seemed more inclined to say yes based on their success in 2015. "They just didn't make the nine-team list (of teams I would accept a deal to)," Hamels said of the Astros. "When I made the list in October, who knew?"
A source close to Hamels doesn't believe he's actually being open-minded about Houston or Toronto though. "He's just trying to say the right thing," a source told CBS. The source also said Hamels has already informed the Phillies he will not consent to a trade to the Blue Jays.
The Astros may be wise to turn their attention to Cincinnati, where Johnny Cueto could be on the block.
[CBS]
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