Cardinals interested in adding Cole Hamels to rotation
Take a quick lap around the league to stay updated on all the latest trades, signings, and rumors:
- One ace isn't enough for the Cardinals anymore - now they want a playmate for Adam Wainwright in the rotation. It seems as though the Cardinals may have been hiding their magic in Wainwright's cartilage, the trimming of which has led to interest in getting him some help, rather than relying on the Busch Stadium mojo so proudly touted during the playoffs.
And this isn't a Phillies-style search for a warm body, this is big game hunting: They want a top of the rotation starter, and according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi, they're looking at Cole Hamels.
The Cardinals are also looking at Max Scherzer and David Price, putting Hamels on the same level as the other two number ones. That's something other analysts have been hesitant to do for some reason this winter.
- Jimmy Rollins is settling in just fine in Los Angeles, where reporters tried to goad a catch phrase out of him to start off his Dodger career.
- Across the way, the Angels want a young third baseman to keep on hold until the future arrives. The Cubs would never give them Kris Bryant, but there are plenty of other prospects out there... prospects like the Carribean firestarter Maikel Franco, who is mentioned by name in this article. As are eight other third base prospects.
- Speaking of Jayson Werth, the Nationals' right fielder is receiving some surprise arthroscopic shoulder surgery that will keep him out of the lineup for two to three months.
- The market is currently building for Ichiro (.284/.324/.340), in whom the Blue Jays, Orioles, and Marlin are all suddenly interested. He is 41, his last All-Star Game, Gold Glove, and MVP votes were in 2010, and this past season he generated the sum total of his WAR from 2013 and 2012 combined (1.0), but as experts have pointed out, he remains Ichiro.
- Craig Biggio is the first Astro to ever make the Hall of Fame, and the team is throwing him a party, hopefully in which they will not force him to sample the many horrible Astros uniforms he has worn over the years.
- Johan Santana's comeback is still planned, as the 35-year-old will throw three innings or 40 pitches in the Venezuelan Winter League next Tuesday. This is after a first comeback attempt last season through a minor league deal with the Orioles, during which he tore his Achilles and was once again sidelined.
- Forget Yoan Moncada – the next hot Cuban prospect is outfielder 25-year-old Dayron Varona. Yes, eventually, this process will be so cyclical we won't even wait until a Cuban prospect signs with a team before moving onto the next one. Moncada remains available, but Varona will be holding a workout on January 20. He plays almost every position (but not first base, shortstop, and pitcher)! He won a Gold Glove! People have used the phrase "five-tool" about him! I'm telling you, Moncada is a can't-miss prospect. I mean, Varona. Varona is a can't-miss.
- And while everyone's gawking at Varona, the Yankees and Red Sox are reportedly in hot pursuit of Moncada, making this one of those rather uninteresting free agent rumors.
- Career Padre – a term far more funereal before this offseason – Will Venable may not be leaving San Diego, even with the brand new sparkling outfield GM A.J. Preller has put together. The theory is that Venable's versatility would allow him to serve as a contingency plan for Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, or Justin Upton, and carries with him the "chosen one" label of a left-handed hitter among the starting righties. The Padres have all kinds of news this season!
- Josh Johnson is going to have to throw at least five starts in order to start making the incentives in his new contract with the Padres work in his favor. Anywhere from five to 33 will earn him bonuses in intervals of $6.25 million. Not bad for a 30-year-old coming off his second Tommy John surgery.
- In equally interesting news, things are really heating up between the Orioles and free agent Colby Rasmus.
- The Orioles are also bringing in J.P. Arencibia to try and start filling the gaps in their offense. It's a minor league deal for the 29-year-old, who strikes out an awful lot and has hit very poorly (.194 BA, .592 OPS in 2013, .177 BA, .607 OPS in 2014) over the last two years.