CLEARWATER, Fla. — The seats behind home plate at Bright House Field were teeming with scouts for Cole Hamels’ first start of the spring Friday.
Among the teams on hand were the Red Sox, Cardinals and Rangers. All three could be fits if/when the Phillies trade Hamels.
The Phillies, of course, aren’t eager to trade the 31-year-old lefty, but are willing to do so because he has value and could bring back a package of young talent that would help fuel the team’s rebuild.
An injury would hurt Hamels’ value. That’s why you could say team officials rolled the dice a little by letting him take the mound as rain fell at the start of Friday’s game against the Yankees. One blown groin muscle on a wet track …
“That would be trouble,” Hamels admitted.
Ultimately, Hamels got through his two-inning assignment smoothly.
“It’s something where you’re trying to not overexert yourself,” he said of his first time out.
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He allowed just one hit, walked none and struck out two. The rain let up as his outing progressed. Eventually it picked up again and the game was delayed for 50 minutes. The Yankees won, 4-1, but much of the focus was on Hamels.
It will be every time he pitches. He will be very much under the microscope this spring — and beyond.
“I think the whole team is,” he said. “All the guys are.”
There’s truth in that. Cliff Lee, Jonathan Papelbon and Ryan Howard are all on the trading block and scouts are watching them closely. Younger players who will be staying around are also being watched to determine, well, how long they will stay around.
“I think if you’re a young guy, it’s a great position to be in,” said Hamels, continuing the under-the-microscope image. “As veterans, I think that’s just the situation and scenario that happened over the last couple years that we’re in. I think it’s everyone, even the front office. It’s a team aspect, a team sport. And I think that’s just kind of where we’ve been placed.”
Hamels threw just fastballs and changeups in his two-inning assignment. He usually doesn’t mix in breaking balls until he has a start or two under his belt. He threw 31 pitches, 22 of which were strikes.
“I really just want to focus on throwing strikes this early,” he said. “I just wanted to get out there and face hitters. There is just a little more adrenaline and focus when you actually have a guy in there from an opposing team.”
Manager Ryne Sandberg liked what he saw of Hamels, who will be the team’s opening day starter — if he’s still with the club.
“He looked really good,” Sandberg said. “He had his rhythm and a really good pace. Under the conditions, he was really good. It looked like he surprised some hitters with his changeup.”