Report: Cardinals exploring trades for Cole Hamels, David Price
The St. Louis Cardinals are exploring trades for Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels and Detroit Tigers pitcher David Price, reports Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi of Fox Sports.
The team is also interested in possibly signing free-agent pitcher Max Scherzer, who turned down a six-year, $144 million offer from the Tigers last year.
According to the report, the team could be looking to add assets to its pitching staff, as Adam Wainwright is coming off right elbow surgery, Michael Wacha has only started 28 games in the past two seasons because of injury and Jaime Garcia had shoulder surgery in July.
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Hamels, who went 9-9 with a 2.46 ERA last season, still has almost $96 million left on his contract, which features a no-trade clause to 20 teams. He will make $23.5 million in each of the next four seasons. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has said that Hamels was "neutral" about the possibility of being traded.
Price was acquired by Detroit in a three-team deal at the trade deadline with the Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners. He is in the final season of his contract and could make up to $19 million in arbitration.
Price, a four-time All-Star and 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner, went 15-12 with a 3.26 ERA and led the major leagues with 271 strikeouts.
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