Report: Hamels won't waive no-trade clause to join Blue Jays

Good news for the Boston Red Sox: it appears highly coveted starter Cole Hamels has no plans to pitch for the division rival Toronto Blue Jays.

Hamels, who's been the subject of persistent rumors involving the Red Sox, won't waive his no-trade clause to join the Blue Jays, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Toronto and Boston are reportedly both among the 20 teams the Philadelphia Phillies left-hander can block a trade to this season.

It's unclear whether the Blue Jays engaged in serious discussions with the Phillies or if talks even advanced beyond an exploratory stage. Sportsnet's Shi Davidi reports that Toronto is believed to have checked in on Hamels during the GM meetings in November, but there's been no contact between the two clubs regarding the 31-year-old veteran in months.

Hamels is 4-3 with a 3.24 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings this season. He's under contract for $23.5 million this year and is owed an additional $70.5 million over the next three seasons, with a vesting option for 2019 that could potentially be worth as much as $24 million.