Dodgers Frontrunners to Sign Cole Hamels? Why LA Needs to Go Bigger for Pitching Help
The Los Angeles Dodgers were one of at least 20 MLB teams in attendance for free agent LHP, Cole Hamels’ showcase Friday. We discuss if the Dodgers should sign the former World Series MVP and why even if they add the veteran pitcher they should also look to trade for a frontline, impact starter to fortify the Dodgers starting rotation.
Plus, ESPN MLB Senior Writer, Buster Olney says he would be ‘in shock’ if the Dodgers aren’t interested in Cole Hamels.
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We talked a bit about Hamels last week. The veteran left hander made only one start for the Braves in 2020 while dealing with the injury bug. However, over his career, he’s been one of the better innings eaters in baseball. Across 15 big league seasons, Hamels has a record of 163-122 with a 3.43 ERA in nearly 2,700 innings.
He’d surely be a fine addition to a rotation that has had to throw a lot of innings while covering for a season-ending injury (Dustin May), and a player missing at least a month and half if not the whole season due to assault charges (Trevor Bauer). Notably, Cole Hamels would also need time to build up and get up to speed after signing a deal.
So with that, maybe it would be a better play for Andrew Friedman to look a bit bigger than just innings at the deadline.
NEXT: Josiah Gray Starting Next Week is ‘On the Table’
There was a time and yes with reasonable qualification to the statement of not going against signing Hamels….this isn’t that time however. He is a big enough name but he is not ready for the from here on in to the end crunch.I feel the only reason we might gamble is the thought of the Giants or Padres taking the gamble and having it work against us.We can probably do better.Then again we might try Hamels out and still trade for another arm.This very well may occur. Hold on to your seats everyone.
If they don’t fix the bullpen’s failures in extra inning games, Cole will not help. Dodgers are now 1-9 in extra inning games. They had two chances to nail this win down. Frustrating!
Yes , Dodgers had chances but once again struck out 12 times on Sunday and in some key situations. Shaky defense didn’t help either.
defense lost the game – not the pitching
Need bullpen help badly, bunch of no names and the always frustrating Kenley Jansen, who certainly cannot be trusted in the postseason. At least one more starting pitcher and someone trustworthy to close.
Right on the button!!! No experience middle relievers and Kenley closing’s a recipe for disaster in the post season
Bobbyd – check out the Dodger relievers and see how many years experience most of them have. these are mostly vets with a few more coming back off injury. Kenley is fine too. Dodgers did not get to #2 team in MLB this late in the year with no experienced middle relievers
name another closer this year with as many saves as Kenley and a few blown saves. bullpen is fine with injured players coming back.
at this point cole hamels is road kill. and it would take two months to build him up to what, single-A velo, throwing with accuracy, getting into the 6th, under a 6 era?? DOUBTFUL. He’s a junk car with delusions of long-dead success. Pass!
Andy has a penchant for dumpster diving in search of dead bodies with a pulse. This is a perfect case in point. A 37 year old that’s thrown 3 innings in two years. That’s basically reinforcing the fact there’s not much down on the farm. Gotta be a better way. I hope!!
can you say Josiah Gray?
The Bullpen is at its low failing to protect leads 3 times and losing a hard fought game.
Against a low tier team and failing to close a needed win means TROUBLE!
no trouble here. Dodgers won the series, gained ground on the gnats and now play them 4 straight at home with a 6-3 record against them this year. defense lost the game – not the pitching