LA Dodgers Trade Rumors: Johnny Cueto, Cole Hamels Become Trade Targets For Dodgers
LA Dodgers trade rumors indicate the team wants Johnny Cueto and Cole Hamels. A Dodgers trade for Cueto remains at the top of the list for the franchise, but the team is also in talks with the Philadelphia Phillies about acquiring Hamels. A report from CBS Sports on Friday (July 17) suggests that the willingness of the front office of the Cincinnati Reds to part with Cueto soon has helped propel negotiations. No exact parameters of a proposed deal have been leaked, but it could become a bidding war between the Dodgers and the Houston Astros.
As previously reported by the Inquisitr, the general manager of the Phillies has been asking for a lot in return for Hamels. It was suggested that he wanted four or five big prospects in exchange for the starting pitcher, and that he had insisted the Dodgers include at least shortstop Corey Seager and left-handed pitcher Julio Urias in trade scenarios. It caused the Dodgers to cool on those talks, but it could be re-visited if the Phillies have truly backed off the original demands.
Recent LA Dodgers trade rumors have also addressed that the team could lose Zach Greinke during the MLB offseason if the former Cy Young winner decides to opt out of his deal. It would leave a big hole in the starting rotation that could be filled in the long-term by someone like Cole Hamels. Hamels still has three more seasons on his current deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, meaning he would be locked up for a while. He also has a team option worth $20 million for the 2019 MLB season that the Dodgers could use.
It might take less to acquire Johnny Cueto from the Cincinnati Reds, plus he has pitched better than Hamels over the past few MLB seasons. The catch is that Cueto becomes a free agent during the offseason, and he might be one of the most expensive starting pitchers on the open market. He was the runner-up for the 2014 Cy Young Award to Clayton Kershaw, so his talent could also make the team pretty dominant in the postseason. The question becomes how much the Dodgers would be willing to give up to acquire him.
There are a lot of LA Dodgers trade rumors out there, not just because there are some great starting pitchers available, but also because the team has a lot of really good prospects in the minor leagues. The Dodgers have the assets to acquire Johnny Cueto from the Reds or Cole Hamels from the Phillies, but the front office has to decide just how much its willing to give up to bet on the 2015 MLB Playoffs.
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