Dodgers News: Jimmy Rollins Talks Possible Cole Hamels Trade

The Los Angeles Dodgers came away victorious in a high-scoring opener of a four-game set against the Philadelphia Phillies at Chavez Ravine. Jimmy Rollins hit a go-ahead, two-run single against his former team to help his new team get the first game of the series.

The 36-year-old shortstop made some interesting comments before the game about the possibility of a former teammate coming to the Dodgers. The Phillies have the worst record in baseball and are reported to be huge sellers as the July 31 trade deadline approaches. One of the big names still on the roster for the NL East team is pitcher Cole Hamels.

Many teams are reportedly interested in the 31-year-old southpaw pitcher. Before the series against the Phillies began, Rollins sat down to talk with the media, being that this is his first series against his former team. The 2007 NL MVP was asked whether or not he has kept in contact with Hamels as the trade deadline approaches. Rollins stated with a cheesy grin, “Maybe. Maybe not.”

The Dodgers are one of the teams in Major League Baseball that are examining the possibility of adding a starting pitcher to the rotation. Due to season-ending injuries to Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy, and Carlos Frias recently being placed on the disabled list, the Dodgers certainly could be a buying team as they make a push towards the World Series.

Rollins was later asked if he would like to see the idea of Hamels coming to the Dodgers and the 15-year veteran was accepting of the idea. “That would be nice. Cole would be close to home. We know what type of pitcher he is,” Rollins said. “Especially in big games, he wants those games. Then you have two big-game pitchers that are already here, so that would be three and that’s one heck of a combination.”

The probablity of Hamels being added into the rotation with Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw certainly is an idea that the Dodgers’ front office has pondered, but isn’t ready to pull the trigger on because they do not want to empty out the farm system. The reunion of the key duo behind the Phillies’ World Series win in 2008 could be an excellent addition to the Dodgers that would secure the starting rotation depth needed through the dog days of summer and heading into the postseason.