“I want to be in the playoffs every year. That’s where you make a name for yourself. It’s not about the Cy Young awards and MVP awards. It’s about winning championships. You want to be in a place where you have a chance to win.” – Cole Hamels
That place is not Philadelphia, according to Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels in an interview with USA Today.
When pitchers and catchers reporting to Clearwater there is supposed to be a breath of fresh air as players embrace the start of a new year filled with various forms of optimism. As we have been led to believe, this spring training in Clearwater is going to be quite the awkward one following an offseason that saw general manager Ruben Amaro state the Phillies might be better off without Ryan Howard and constant speculation about potential moves involving Jonathan Papelbon or Cole Hamels. Hamels, for his part, understands the reality of the situation the franchise is currently sitting in, even if others do not want to acknowledge it.
In an interview with USA Today baseball writer Bob Nightengale, Hamels says he wants to win and he does not see that being a possibility in Phillies pinstripes. Not anytime soon, at least. From USA Today;
“I just want to win,” Hamels told USA TODAY Sports in his first interview since the end of the 2014 season. “That’s all. That’s all any competitor wants.
“And I know it’s not going to happen here.
“This isn’t what I expected. It’s not what the Phillies expected, either.
“But it’s reality.”
Hamels gets it. He has been around this game long enough to know when a franchise is looking to turn a page. He is also in the prime of his career and, being the competitive person he is, wants to use his best years competing at a high level for another World Series ring. Who can blame him?
Reading that quote, it also sounds like something Papelbon said at one point last season when the closer said he didn’t sign a contract to come pitch for a losing team. Nobody wants to pitch for a loser. When Hamels signed his new contract two years ago, the Phillies were on the decline with aging veterans all around, and that has prevented the Phillies from being able to move forward in some aspects. Had Hamels known what would happen, perhaps he would have tested free agency. Who knows? Regardless, Hamels wants to win and the Phillies have not shied away from floating their ace out for the taking. They just have not been blown away by an offer deemed legitimate.
San Diego pulled out of the mix following the signing of James Shields (although check back at the trade deadline, just in case). The Los Angeles Dodgers would likely be an awesome fit alongside Clayton Kershaw, but the Boston Red Sox may still be the most likely trade partner once there is some ground covered in the compromise stage. The Phillies want top-crop prospects and the Red Sox want to send players like Shane Victorino. No dice.
“I don’t watch much TV in the off-season, and I had friends texting me and telling me what’s going on,” Hamels said to USA Today. “I tried to stay away from all of it. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was checking the Internet to see the latest. [Hi Cole!]
“I wanted to see where I was going to spend my next four years. Now that I’m here, I plan on being here for the next six weeks. I think it would be pretty chaotic if that’s not the case. But it’s out of my control.”
Yesterday I defended the Phillies in holding on to Hamels rather than rush into another potential Curt Schilling-to-Arizona deal. If Hamels is the most valuable commodity on the team right now — and he is — then Amaro has the responsibility of ensuring the best possible return for Hamels. Some suggest that best deal has already passed the Phillies by, but I have no problem with holding out and expecting Hamels to continue to perform on the mound. If he does, the market for Hamels will still be there at the trade deadline, although there could be other options teams might be more willing to pursue.
What I do not want to see is a full season of Hamels constantly addressing the thought of playing elsewhere. I believe Hamels will be a professional and do what he has to do for as long a she is wearing a Phillies uniform, but if the Phillies sit behind the NL East as many expect they will and Hamels is lacking run support, the tension could get tight as the days go by. I still stand by the idea of Amaro holding on to Hamels until the trade deadline unless a great deal comes their way, even if it is going to create some drama along the way.
If there is any positive to come out of the USA Today interview, Hamels is not putting off an image of being disgruntled to the point where he is holding grudges against the Phillies and management. For a team with supposed clubhouse chemistry issues, not having Hamels ready to blow things up is about as positive as one can get right now.
Cole Hamels on Phillies: Winning ‘not going to happen here’ (USA Today)
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