WOULD YOU WANT COLE HAMELS IN YANKEE PINSTRIPES?

So there are reports floating around that Cole Hamels' agent has made it known that his client is looking for a 7-year deal.  Exactly how much per year Hamels is looking for is unknown but you have to figure somewhere between $22-$25-million per year is probably in the ballpark (pardon the pun!).  The question is, though, who would give him that kind of deal?

No question that Hamels would be a huge get for any team in MLB.  But with the money and terms he will be looking for, realistically, there are probably only a handful of teams that could afford him.  Obviously the Yankees and Red Sox immediately come to my mind but, in recent years, teams like the Rangers, Angels, Phillies, and now the Marlins have shown they are willing to spend the big money.

Since BYB is a Yankee blog I decided to take a look at whether Hamels is someone the Yankees should pursue after this season.  The short answer for me is yes, I believe the Yankees should go after Cole Hamels and go after him hard.  To me, when you look at what Hamels has done in his career up to this point and the season he is having in 2012, it would be a shame not to attempt to get him in pinstripes next year.  Here are a few reasons why I think he is worth the price he will be asking...

• He is one of the premiere left handed pitchers in the game today.  His record speaks for itself.  Including this season here are his career statistics over 7 seasons:

Regular season:  79-Wins -- 3.35 ERA. -- 1,140 K's -- Avg.'s 2.2 Walks-per-9-innings -- Avg.'r 8.5 Strikeouts-per-9-innings
Postseason:  7-Wins in 13 starts -- 3.09 ERA. -- 81.2 IP -- 77 K's

• Hamels is just 28-years-old so he is just about to come into his prime.

• He has pitched in Philadelphia his entire 7-years in the Majors so you know he can handle the pressure.  Sure Philly is not New York but its pretty darn close when it comes to the pressures a player faces in the big city.

• Heading into the 2013 season, after CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, and Hiroki Kuroda who can you say is a definite for the Yankees starting rotation?  Phil Hughes...still a huge question mark.  David Phelps...who really knows but I definitely know he is not Cole Hamels.  Andy Pettitte...again, after this year can we really expect Pettitte to be back in pinstripes in 2013?  I think you cannot assume Pettitte will be back.  So, that being said, Can you picture a CC Sabathia, Cole Hamels, Michael Pineda, Ivan Nova, 1-2-3-4 punch?

• Based on the moves the Yankees and Brian Cashman made this past winter, the Yankees should have the cash to be able to give a Cole Hamels say, 6-7 years at $23-million a year, with cash left over to sign Cano to an extension and fill a Swisher-less right field.

Look, I wrote this piece just to throw the idea out to you all.  Of course, there is so much baseball left in 2012 and anything could happen.  Maybe Hughes is on the brink of a huge year?  Maybe Pettitte gives us 13-15 wins and another great post season and decides to come back for one more year in 2013?  Maybe one of the "killer B's" (Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos) are ready to start next year?  Or, maybe the Phillies seal the deal with Hamels before the end of this season.  Again, this piece is pure speculation and opinion on my part but would love to know what you all think?  Would you want Cole Hamels in pinstripes?

--Mikey Blue, BYB Senior Writer
Email: DonnieBaseball2323@gmail.com
Twitter: @MikeyBlu23


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