Could Philadelphia Phillies‘ ace Cole Hamels be dealt to the Baltimore Orioles?

Cole Hamels was brilliant over seven shut-out innings in Sunday afternoon’s 1-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hamels went seven innings, while only allowing four hits and striking out 12. Despite that performance, he didn’t get a single run of support in the eventual loss, perhaps a sign of why he would like to be moved to a contender.

CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman has reported that Hamels appears prepared to use his no-trade clause to prevent a trade to the Houston Astros or the Toronto Blue Jays, perhaps because neither team has been an annual contender recently. There certainly is some level of mutual interest between Hamels and the Boston Red Sox, but with the Los Angeles Dodgers seemingly not as interested in Hamels as other options, it’s become fair to wonder what other teams will push the Red Sox to give the Phillies a good return later this summer.

George A. King III of the New York Post says that some around the league believe the Orioles, who the Phillies are about to open up a series against, could be a fit and the Phillies are preparing as such.

The Phillies, who are listening on Cole Hamels, had two scouts at the Yankees-Orioles game at Camden Yards Sunday. Some industry voices believe Hamels would be a great fit for the Orioles, who are showing signs of overtaking the Yankees in the AL East despite a suspect rotation.

The Orioles have been a contender the past few seasons under Buck Showalter, but aren’t necessarily a sexy team. Baltimore is close to Philadelphia, which may make Hamels more interested in moving to the team given that he wouldn’t have to move him and his wife across the country. Should Hamels attempt to veto a trade to the Orioles, it would be fair to wonder how serious he is about joining a contender.

If the Orioles do turn out to be a serious player for Hamels, it could make the sweepstakes interesting. It may push the Red Sox to get more serious in negotiations, and if Hamels was willing to re-consider going north of the border, the Blue Jays. King did suggest that the Yankees are unlikely to get seriously interested in Hamels, though a lot could change over the course of the next month and a half.

H/T Max Wildstein