MLB Player News

The Padres have discussed a trade for Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels, according to the Daily News. 

Newly-acquired outfielder Wil Myers would be used as the centerpiece in the deal. By bringing in Myers, Matt Kemp and Justin Upton, San Diego has a glut of talent in the outfield. While it seems strange that the team would turn around and deal Myers, he would be the type of talent the Phillies are said to be seeking for Hamels. Philadelphia reportedly wants two or three "premium" prospects for Hamels. 

The 30-year-old Hamels posted a 2.46 ERA over 204 2/3 innings last season. He's owed $90 million over the next four seasons. 

Premier Mets pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard is the centerpiece of trade talks involving Rockies star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, per CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman, who is further reporting that the teams are not close to finalizing a trade.

The pitching-rich Mets are dangling the 22-year-old Syndergaard, who struggled at the Triple-A level in 2014 with a 4.60 ERA and career-worst 1.48 WHIP. Syndergaard has fanned 474 in just 426 2/3 innings.

The Marlins and Yankees formally announced a five player trade on Friday, per MLB.com. The Marlins acquired infielder Martin Prado and pitcher David Phelps from New York in exchange for Nathan Eovaldi, Garrett Jones and Domingo German. Miami also received an undisclosed amount of cash in the deal.

Prado hit .282 with 12 homers and 58 RBI in 143 games played between the Yankees and Diamondbacks. Phelps went 5-5 with a 4.38 ERA and 92 strikeouts over 113 innings pitched. 

Eovaldi registered a 4.37 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP and 142:43 K:BB ratio over 199 2/3 innings as a starter in Miami. Jones hit .246 with 15 homers and 53 RBI over 496 at-bats in his lone season with the Marlins.

CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman has confirmed the Yankees have traded third baseman Martin Prado and pitcher David Phelps to the Marlins in exchange for pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, first baseman Garrett Jones and Domingo German. The Marlins will also receive an undisclosed amount of cash in the deal.

Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels seems resigned to pitching for a new team in 2015, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

"It's unfortunate, but all great teams have that season or drought for a couple of years and then they start to rebuild," Hamels said during an interview Sunday with MLB Network Radio. "I know I'm young enough to be able to go out there and play, and I love playing in the city of Philadelphia. Nothing but the best. The fans have been great; the organization has been great to me. But I do understand that baseball is a game that will go on, even after I'm done playing.

"So you have to put that in perspective and not really be too down about it. It's something, where if it does happen, I completely understand. Hopefully there will be a time when I can come back before my career is over. But, at the same time, it's a business. It's baseball."

Hamels, who has been mentioned heavily in trade rumors, said his perfect scenario would be to pitch for "a team that wants to win."

"Whenever you're in the postseason, that's what you play the game for," Hamels said.

The Red Sox and Diamondbacks completed a trade Friday, with pitcher Wade Miley heading to Boston in exchange for pitchers Allen Webster and Rubby De La Rosa as well as infielder Raymel Flores .

The deal was one of two trades announced by the Diamondbacks between the two teams Friday. The Diamondbacks announced that pitcher Eury De La Rosa was designated for assignment in a related move.

Miley, 28, went 8-12 with a 4.34 ERA and 183:75 K:BB ratio in 201 1/3 innings in 2014. He's set to reach free agency after the 2017 season but will slide into Boston's new-look rotation for 2015.

Webster went 5-3 with a 5.03 ERA and 36:28 K:BB ratio in 59 innings over 11 starts with the Red Sox in 2014 while delivering a 3.10 ERA and 100:44 K:BB ratio in 122 innings with Triple-A Pawtucket. Webster was the No. 88 prospect in baseball before the 2014 season, according to Baseball America, and landed in the top 50 of the same list prior to the 2013 season.

De La Rosa made 18 starts and one relief appearance with the Red Sox in 2014, going 4-8 with a 4.43 ERA and 74:35 K:BB ratio in 101 2/3 innings. He also made 12 starts in Triple-A last season, posting a 3.45 ERA and 57:25 K:BB ratio in 60 innings.

Flores turned 20 years old in September and has spent three seasons in the Red Sox minor-league system. He hit .282/.344/.354 with one home run, 12 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 206 at-bats with low Class A Lowell in 2014.

Pirates pitcher Charlie Morton told Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Friday that his rehab from hip surgery is going well and that he expects to be ready by April. Morton had surgery on his right hip late September. He had the same procedure on his left hip in October of 2011, which caused him to miss one start in 2012. Morton indicated that he's rehabbing more aggressively this time around.

Morton registered a 3.72 ERA and 126:57 K:BB ratio in 157 1/3 innings in 2014.

The Cubs made the signing of starting pitcher Jason Hammel official on Friday, ESPN reports. According to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman, Hammel signed a two-year deal worth $18 million on Monday. The deal includes a $10 million team option and a $2 million buyout for 2016.

Hammel posted a 8-5 record and 2.98 ERA with the Cubs last season before being traded to Oakland.

Reds general manager Walt Jocketty is expecting starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani, who was picked up in a trade with the Marlins on Thursday, to be an important part of the team's plans in 2015, according to MLB Network Radio.

"We think DeSclafani will fit into our rotation this year. Our scouts were very, very high on him," Jocketty said.

Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said Thursday he met with the reps for starting pitcher Johnny Cueto at the Winter Meetings, according to MLB Network Radio. Although, Jocketty admits it will not be easy signing the 28-year-old Cueto to a contract extension.

Cueto, who won a career-high 20 games in 2014, is in the final year of a five-year, $36.2 million contract.

"We had a brief meeting with his agent down here and we'll see how re-signing him progresses. But it won't be easy," Jocketty said.