Who is the best available ace on the trade block?

[DJ]

Johnny Cueto or Cole Hamels?

I say Cueto because he is putting up a very good season (and yes I realize Hamels just tossed a no-no today) and he's a few years younger, he's smack dab in his prime. Hamels is hardly over he the proverbial hill but he is 31.

And you never know when a pitcher over the age of 30 starts to lose it after all the miles his arm has logged.

 

[GNG]

Kyle Lohse...

 

[da55bums]

David Price

 

[GeekSportsFan]

Guess Cole Hamels moves up a notch or two after today's performance.

 

[DJ]

I read online that the Tigers may not be trading Price.

 

[romeo212000]

Cueto or Price. Price pitches in the more difficult league, but Cueto pitches in a hitters park.

 

[da55bums]

I read online that the Tigers may not be trading Price.

I have read both ways, but tigers need a serious overhaul and don't have much to sell to build it..

 

[PPhan]

David Price is the obvious answer.

 

[The Derski]

If it's between Cueto or Hamels it's Cueto. If we throw in Price, it's Price by a mile.

 

[tducey]

Price.

 

[Sgt Brutus]

If it's between Hamels and Cueto I'll take Cole thanks to the postseason experience/success.

Cueto: 3 games 0-2 w/ 5.19 ERA
Hamels: 13 games 7-4 w/ 3.09 ERA AND a WS

David Price you ask?
1-5 w/ 4.50 ERA hasn't won a game he's started

Playoff stats are the end-all be-all but besides making the playoffs these teams are bringing in the pitchers to make runs in the playoffs. I'll take Hamels in the postseason!

Edit- Scott Kazmir playoff experience 8 games (7 started). 1-2 w/ 5.20 ERA

 

[Sgt Brutus]

Price has the best win % and ERA of the two this season but playing on a better team. Cueto has a WHP below 1.000, a career best despite his ERA taking a small dip from last year where he produced 20 wins. If we are looking future and not just this year Price and Cueto are 29 compared to Cole who is 31.

 

[romeo212000]

If it's between Hamels and Cueto I'll take Cole thanks to the postseason experience/success.

Cueto: 3 games 0-2 w/ 5.19 ERA
Hamels: 13 games 7-4 w/ 3.09 ERA AND a WS

David Price you ask?
1-5 w/ 4.50 ERA hasn't won a game he's started

Playoff stats are the end-all be-all but besides making the playoffs these teams are bringing in the pitchers to make runs in the playoffs. I'll take Hamels in the postseason!

I couldn't possibly care less about W-L records in any context for pitchers.

 

[Sgt Brutus]

I couldn't possibly care less about W-L records in any context for pitchers.

Good to know

 

[romeo212000]

Good to know

It's a completely arbitrary stat for pitchers.

 

[Sgt Brutus]

It's a completely arbitrary stat for pitchers.

I was just putting it there for the sake of it. Of course W-L has more to do with team then the pitcher. Still doesn't take away from the fact that Cole has been clutch in the playoffs.

 

[navamind]

I wouldn't put much stock into Hamels' ERA, the Phillies defense is atrocious and has been for several years now. His FIP and xFIP are still strong (3.20/3.15).

 

[navamind]

If it's between Hamels and Cueto I'll take Cole thanks to the postseason experience/success.

Cueto: 3 games 0-2 w/ 5.19 ERA
Hamels: 13 games 7-4 w/ 3.09 ERA AND a WS

David Price you ask?
1-5 w/ 4.50 ERA hasn't won a game he's started

Playoff stats are the end-all be-all but besides making the playoffs these teams are bringing in the pitchers to make runs in the playoffs. I'll take Hamels in the postseason!

Edit- Scott Kazmir playoff experience 8 games (7 started). 1-2 w/ 5.20 ERA

Postseason performance is random and has no predictive value whatsoever. Remember when everyone said the Royals stood little chance against the A's because of Jon Lester's postseason success? And what about David Freese? Outside of his postseason heroics, he's been an average at best player.

 

[molsaniceman]

Price has the best win % and ERA of the two this season but playing on a better team. Cueto has a WHP below 1.000, a career best despite his ERA taking a small dip from last year where he produced 20 wins. If we are looking future and not just this year Price and Cueto are 29 compared to Cole who is 31.

Price and Cueto are both rentals Hamels is signed for 3 more years So trading for Hamels could help your future Cueto will not be a Royal next year

 

[StanMarsh51]

Price has the best win % and ERA of the two this season but playing on a better team. Cueto has a WHP below 1.000, a career best despite his ERA taking a small dip from last year where he produced 20 wins. If we are looking future and not just this year Price and Cueto are 29 compared to Cole who is 31.

From a contract standpoint, the obvious advantage with Hamels is duration of the contract...trading for and hoping to sign either Price or Cueto would mean having to give them contracts that likely will run into their late 30s. With Hamels, his contract will be over by the time he's 34 or 35 (if his option for 2019 kicks in), so there's a much better likelihood of getting productive/prime years for the duration of Hamels' contract than for Cueto's or Price's potential contracts.

Price and Cueto will both be 30 next opening day, so if they each get a 7-8 year deal, that'll run him to age 37-38, and I wouldn't be on either giving their teams much after age 35 (as with most pitchers).