Are the Seattle Mariners in on Cole Hamels?

The Seattle Mariners are in an interesting position… They are sort of in the playoff picture, but they probably weren’t expecting to be in this spot at the beginning of the season. The organization is still very young and the crops on the farm are just starting to mature.

With that being said, many questions have been asked about how the Mariners would approach the trade deadline. And from what we have heard, Jerry Dipoto is keen on adding a starting pitcher, a bat, and a right-handed second baseman.

Are the Seattle Mariners in on Cole Hamels?

Per Jon Heyman, 20 teams attended the veteran left-handers showcase today in Frisco, Texas. Were the Mariners one of those teams? Cole Hamels threw two 30-pitch bullpens and his fastball averaged 88.5 mph. The former World Series MVP has been working back from his injuries from last year which allowed him to only throw 3.1 innings.

The 37-year-old lefty has been alright since leaving the Phillies. He made the All-Star team in 2016 with the Rangers as a 32-year-old and has been hovering around the 4.00 ERA mark since. In 2019, he threw 141.2 innings for the Cubs and finished with a 3.81 ERA. I think it’s clear that Hamels’ 2.79 ERA days are behind him, but he has the potential to be a solid back-end pitcher.

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Why it makes sense for the Seattle Mariners to sign Cole Hamels

Jerry Dipoto says he is interested in bringing in a starting pitcher this month. Well, Cole Hamels isn’t a bad option because we wouldn’t have to trade away a prospect.

Another reason why I think Hamels is a viable option is his experience. The Seattle Mariners rotation is young and could definitely use a guy like Cole Hamels to be a mentor. Hamels knows what it is like to contend, be in the playoffs, and win in the playoffs.

Lastly, I think the Mariners are in a spot where they can take a gamble. Why not take a chance on a guy that has had an illustrious career and hope for the best? And if it ends up being a terrible signing, so what? The team is pretty far from making the playoffs in the first place and it would take a miracle to catch up.

Why it does not make sense for the Seattle Mariners to sign Cole Hamels

The perceived train of thought is that Jerry Dipoto wants to trade for a player that would benefit us in the long term. With a veteran guy who struggled with injuries last season, I don’t think it’s very smart to expect Hamels to throw two seasons for the Mariners. So from that perspective, it doesn’t make a lot of sense for Jerry Dipoto to be scrambling to sign Hamels.

But, if Hamels can’t find a deal that he likes and can’t find a suitor, the Seattle Mariners could seriously be a new home for him.