The Baltimore Orioles' farm system may have thinned a bit with injuries to top pitching prospects Dylan Bundy and Hunter Harvey, but that may not stop the O's from making a run at Philadelphia Phillies ace lefty Cole Hamels.
"The three divisions to watch here are the NL West, the AL East and the AL West," CSN Philly's Corey Seidman wrote recently. "Hamels could swing a division race between the Dodgers and Giants, between all the AL East clubs (including the Orioles), or between the Angels, Astros and Rangers. The fact that most of the interested teams are fighting with one another should, in theory, give the Phils even more leverage."
Baltimore is one of ten teams Seidman singles out as potential landing spots for Hamels, but it would take a massive trade package with MLB-ready (or close to) star talent to pull such a deal off -- something which may be contingent on just how Phillies GM Ruben Amaro assesses the value of guys like Bundy or Harvey, irregardless of injuries. There's also the matter of Hamels' contract, which could end up costing the O's nearly $100 million over four years and some change, provided the Phillies don't eat some of the financial burden.
Hamels has been rocked in two straight starts, lasting just 6.1 innings combined while giving up 14 earned runs. He is currently pitching to a 3.91 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP and 124/37 K/BB ratio.
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