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With the Phillies minor league preview coming up this week and recent trade rumors surrounding the Phillies’ ace, I thought it would be worth checking in on Cole Hamels and where his value stands right now in fantasy – particularly in keeper leagues. In some very early 2015 rankings, Hamels has appeared in the #10-#12 range. I don’t disagree with that ranking, but I’ve also seen him listed as a pitcher to avoid and some scuttlebutt about Amaro being to aggressive in his asking price for Hamels in trades. There is never a shortage of opinions on the internet, and attempts to devalue assets in real life sometimes carries over into our fantasy rosters – leading us to question our players. I’m hoping that’s not the case with Hamels, who remains one of the best pitchers in baseball and is deserving of the #1 slot in fantasy rotations. Anything less is undervaluing him in my mind.

Hamels is durable. In 2014, he didn’t make his first start until the end of April thanks to offseason surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. Yet he eclipsed the 200 innings mark for the sixth time in the past seven seasons. The left-hander will be 31 years old on Opening Day in 2015, which may cause some to avoid him in keeper formats. But Hamels’ average fastball velocity has actually increased in each of the last three seasons (90.9, 91.3, 92.1). In his 9-year career, Hamels has averaged a 2.3 BB/9 and an 8.5 K/9. In 2014, his 8.7 K/9 surpassed that career average in his age-30 season.

Hamels is still striking batters out. In a 3-year sample from 2012-2014, Hamels ranks second in the majors among qualified pirtchers with a 12.3% SwStr%. That’s ahead of Clayton Kershaw, Felix Hernandez, and a few other big time arms. Granted, those guys are younger than Hamels and therefore more desirable in keepers. In 2014, Hamels SwStr% still ranked 6th, sandwiched between Cy Young candidates Corey Kluber and Felix Hernandez. In terms of counting stats, Hamels would have eclipsed the 200K mark for the third straight season had he not missed his first handful of starts. In that same 3-year sample, Hamels also ranks 6th in Z-Con%, which measures the hitters’ ability to make contact on pitches in the strike zone. Hamels does it with what is still one of the best changeups in baseball. In 2014 his change-up ranked second in the majors on a per-100 pitch basis.

Hamels may be traded, but it shouldn’t change his value in fantasy. He hasn’t exactly received much run support in his career with the Phillies. In each the past two seasons he has been in the bottom 20 in the league for run support. The last time he wasn’t a run support bottom feeder was 2012, and he won 17 games. A park change shouldn’t be a big deal either. Citizens Bank Park is regarded as a hitter’s ballpark – ranking sixth in homers last season. In 2013, CBP ranked first in homers and sixth in overall runs scored. If Hamels gets moved, the odds of him going to a “worse” park for pitching are slim.

What does it all mean? Don’t be afraid to draft Hamels as an ace, because that’s exactly what he is. And don’t hesitate to acquire him in keeper leagues either – there is plenty left in the tank.