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Hamels Open To One-Year Deal With Win-Now Club

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Veteran lefty Cole Hamels is a free agent for the first time in his excellent 14-year career, but unlike many free agents he doesn’t sound laser-focused on securing one last, lucrative multi-year deal. Rather, he tells MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki that his focus is on signing with a club that is making a clear push for postseason play — even if it means taking a one-year deal.

“I can do one year here and there and just play as long as I can play,” says Hamels. “I think that’s what will help give me an opportunity to play on teams that are trying to go to the postseason. If you need one guy, I can just kind of bounce around.”

There’s some degree of strategy to the decision. Locking himself into multiple years could, conceivably, lead to being stuck on a club where things go south for in 2020 but he’s retained with an eye toward 2021. Plus, on a one-year deal, even if the team with which he signs performs poorly and falls out of contention, there’s always the possibility of being traded to a club making a more definitive postseason push.

Hamels has one World Series ring to his credit already, which he secured more than a decade ago when he was named both the NLCS MVP and World Series MVP for the Phillies’ last championship in 2008. A second tour of duty with the Phillies holds appeal to the veteran Hamels, who says he would “love the opportunity to come back” and recognizes that the organization is “finally trying to make that push.” Notably, he adds that he’d consider a multi-year pact to return to Philly.

Of course, the Phillies’ starting staff quite likely needs more help than Hamels alone can provide, but his willingness to take a one-year pact could allow Philadelphia (or any other win-now club with multiple starting needs) to spend more aggressively on a higher-end rotation augmentation. At present, the Phillies have Aaron Nola atop their starting staff and little else in terms of certain commodities. Jake Arrieta is under contract for another season, but he struggled considerably before undergoing season-ending surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow. Zach Eflin finished out the year with respectable but unspectacular numbers, while fellow righties Nick Pivetta and Vince Velasquez both turned in ugly 2019 campaigns.

Hamels, 36 in December, experienced something of a career renaissance with the Cubs after being traded over from the Rangers prior to the 2018 non-waiver deadline. His 2019 season crumbled after he returned from an oblique injury — the lefty admits to Zolecki that he rushed back far too soon — but from the time of his trade in 2018 to this year’s IL placement he posted a 2.71 ERA with 8.7 K/9, 3.0 BB/9, 0.77 HR/9 and a 49.7 percent grounder rate in 176 innings.

It’s tough to wholly ignore the 42 ugly innings that Hamels posted upon returning from that injury, though. After allowing just nine homers, issuing 35 walks and hitting three batters in his first 99 2/3 innings of the season, Hamels served up eight homers, yielded 21 walks and plunked four batters in those final 42 frames. The result was a woeful 5.79 ERA in that stretch of 10 starts, leaving him with a combined 3.81 ERA in 141 2/3 innings in 2019.

It’s worth emphasizing that being open to a one-year deal and strictly preferring a one-year deal aren’t the same thing. Hamels may be open to a one-year arrangement, but that doesn’t limit him to signing for only a single season. Most contenders would surely prefer a one-year term, but it’s possible that there’ll be enough interest to create multiple two-year offers from World Series hopefuls. The fact that the Cubs opted not to make him a qualifying offer, thus absolving him of the burden of draft-pick compensation, only makes him more appealing to contenders with rotation needs.

Regardless of contract length, the four-time All-Star’s comments make it clear that he has no plans to sign on as a veteran mentor for a rebuilding club: “I just want to have the opportunity to get to the postseason, just so that I can try to win.”

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Comments

      • Phillies!!?? Why not just re-sign with the Cubs on a one-year deal? The team didn’t offer him a QA, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t want him back for less money.

        • To me it says Houston. As a Yankee fan I would love him on a one year deal but I think Houston is where he lands. They are losing one Cole but will likely get McCullers Jr. back and I think adding a different Cole represents the best replacement. Houston also has a lot of guys set for big raises so they will be looking for “value” and Hammels on a one year deal is a value.

        • After paying him 20 million to only pitch half the season, I can totally see why the Cubs didn’t offer a QO. If he’s pissed about that, I don’t want him on the team. He’s worth maybe 13-15 mil so not paying almost 18 mil. If he doesn’t resign with the Cubs, they did him a favor by not offering a QO so he doesn’t have a draft pick attached to him.

        • Padres fans are hilariously delusional. The Padres are far from competing. The Dodgers would make much more sense.

        • Padres are absolutely “win now.” They spent all that money signing guys, they’re a couple starting pitchers away, a one-year deal would be perfect for them, the GM is on the hot seat…, how many reasons do you need?

          Yes they need a couple other things on their list but I say they get them done. Trade for Mookie, plug other holes, bingo.

        • I understand the thinking of the two best teams in baseball, the Dodgers and the Astros, but I think a guy would like to be ‘the reason’ a team gets over the top because they’re a quality pitcher away. If Hamels joins the Dodgers or Astros that would be so Kevin Durant like. But you guys could be right.

          1

        • Being “win now” and being able to win now are two very different things.

          1

        • Yes exactly. And I think the Padres are trying to go from 1 to the other. That GM has got to be on the hot seat by now.

        • Nah, Phillies have a leg up on everybody else. Hamels has a home in Philly and his children are enrolled in a private school here. Much reasons to come back home.

        • Hamels is a 3.0 WAR pitcher. Shocked that the Cubs did not extend a QA.

      • He still livers in the Philly area and still does massive charity work there. Just like Joe Maddon is from Hazelton, PA but is truly a LA guy with all his time there, the reverse is true of Hamels.

        • A couple years ago Hamels and his wife donated their mansion or the money they got after they sold it to charity. I don’t remember all the details.

          2

        • They do that stuff to reduce their tax bill.
          It’s not from the goodness of their heart.

          1

        • tycobb016
          The house they gave to Charity in Dec., 2017 was in Table Rock Lake, Missouri. They had a home in Newtown Square PA but sold it in June 2015

          3

        • You’re a moron. Yes, charitable donations are a tax deduction, but the tax one saves isn’t equal to the money you give away. So to belittle what the Hamels family did is lunacy on your part.

          1

    • Sorry to tell you, but after someone informs the Braves Bumgarner will cost them one of their precious draft picks (that will inevitably tank), they’ll catch wind that Hamels only wants a one year deal and sign him so quick then pretend to the fanbase they nabbed an ace and “spent money” this offseason.

      Not sure why you’d want Hamels anyway other than nostalgia

      • I don’t know why you want Bumgarner so much. He isnt a TOR anymore. The man who was a post season god was a TOR but this Bumgarner is someone else now.

      • Phillies pitching is so horrendous, Hamels would be a very welcome presence.

        I do agree that the Braves may swoop in though. It’s a good fit.

    • I was thinking I’d like him as an Angel, but the Dodgers make a ton of sense. Get rid of the oft injured Rich Hill and replace him with the durable but not overwhelming Cole Hamels. Save the bullpen.

      1

  3. Angels could make sense. He’s from Southern CA, familiar with the AL West, and played for Joe Maddon. I know people will say the Angels are crappy and can’t win now blah blah blah, but I can see a fit.

    5

      • “Rather, he (Cole Hamels) tells MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki that his focus is on signing with a club that is making a clear push for postseason play — even if it means taking a one-year deal.”

        Reading comprehension is a skill. Additionally, all you needed to do was read the very first paragraph of this article to understand this. Hamels expounds on this himself with a full second paragraph quote.

        3

      • Other than their record last year, do you know anything about the Angels?

        My guess is you don’t.

        1

        • Again, it was a joke. Do you know what a joke is? I do not have to guess. You don’t.

          Mac, you are too easy to rattle. Take a day, or the weekend.

          1

    • If the Angels put the petal to the metal in 2020 they might win 75 games. So that’s a no.

  4. Essentially, Cole Hamels is saying that he would be willing to pitch for 80% of the teams in MLB who have some hope to compete for a postseason spot in 2020 and not the 20% who are clearly still in tank mode.

    3

      • Or Kansas City, Detroit, Seattle, Miami and Pittsburgh. Every other team might be in play with the right contract offer and their emphasis this offseason to compete in 2020.

        3

        • White Sox, Reds, Padres, Giants, Angels, and probably the Diamondbacks.

          1

  5. Billy Beane to try and convince Oakland A’s ownership to sign Hamels to a one year pact plus an option. Cole Hamels would be an anchor to a young promising A’s pitching rotation….

    6

    • Hamels, Montas, Luzardo, Fiers, and Manaea would be pretty awesome. I mean even with what we have now in Bassitt, Montas, Luzardo, Fiers, and Manaea is pretty special, for the right price I would go after Cole but I think we are looking pretty good with what we have currently.

      2

      • You forgot Puk. But it would be nice to see the A’s get Hamels in the mix.

        1

  6. Depending on the asking price I wouldn’t mind seeing the Brewers kick the tires. Hamels paired with another free agent arm would help the rotation quite a bit.

    2

      • Brewers finished 5th in the NL, if that isn’t win-now I don’t know what is.

      • The headline does not fit the full narrative of the article, only a part of it. The hot stove is also long, even more so in recent years. “Win-Now’ as of today, next week, next month or next spring…or as long as it takes Hamels to sign a FA contract?

  8. I’ve watched Hammels in all his years with the Phillies. He’s a lock for 30+ starts. Even last year with the goofy core injury he started 27 games.

    • You’ve watched him so long that you can’t even spell his name correctly.

      3

    • Such a lock that he did that once in the last three years and is a year older.

  9. There goes the experts who said cubs should have offered him qualifying offer. He would have taken it and cubs would have been stuck with him. Second half 5+ e.r.a. And opponents batting average .315. Cost cubs chance at playoffs

    4

    • It was more than Hamels that cost the Cubbies a playoff spot. Most notably a solid Cardinals squad.

      Time to face it Cubs fans, hit the plunger on the dynamite.

      1

      • Cardinals had nothing to do with the Cubs losing. They self destructed on their own.

        2

        • Hes not wrong… the Cubs should have done much worse but the Brewers and Cardinals were weak too. The Cardinals entered the post season with the worst record…

        • The Cards entered the postseason with the worst record, yet the Brewers (who play in the same division) played in the Wild Card game.

          If the Cards had the worst record (even of just the three teams), then how did they win the division?

      • Injuries to Bryant, Rizzo and Baez down the stretch didn’t help either. I agree the Cubs have major holes to fill before next season but to say the windows closed and they should blow things up is a little over dramatic.

        3

      • The fact you couldnt even spell Heyward correctly means you werent too versed in the season he had.

  11. still feel like the Padres will get him. hometown guy and the Pads probably dont want to spend too much on one starter with their current payroll situation.

  12. Mr. Middleton, please write the check. You need more than he needs you and he’s got heartstring for the club.

    Get. It. Done.

    2

  13. Reds would probably love to have him as the #4 starter on a one-year deal. A rotation of Castillo-Gray-Bauer-Hamels-DeSclafani would be incredible

  14. So basically, he’s willing to be a “hired gun” year to year. Nothing wrong with that. In fact, it might be a good plan for older pitchers, instead of pricing themselves out of opportunities. He could collect a few more jerseys before he retires and possibly another ring or two.

    • …or slide back into that comfortable #35 jersey that we all know and love…

      He’s comin’ back.

      1

    • It would be fine but the Yankees problem really isn’t depth nor do they lack middle of the rotation guys. Their problem is they have no one to lead the staff. At this stage in his career Hamels is really more of a no.3 or no.4 guy. And the Yankees arguably has 5 guys that could probably fit those slots on a championship caliber team (Paxton, Tanaka, German, Happ and Montgomery). Severino really looks more like a no.2 on a top team and Paxton is more reliable as a no.3 on a top team. Tanaka can be a 3 as well. German won 18 games but isn’t quite a no.2. Happ and Montgomery both, when on their game are no.4 types on a top team).

      • I don’t disagree, but I don’t think the Yankees are going swimming in the deep end of the free agent pitching pool. Yanks could win a championship with their guys from last year plus Hamels.

    • Could replace CC as a guy who could win 12-15 games on a year to year contract basis.

  19. I’d really like to see Atlanta take a flyer on him. I think his leadership could be great for Soroka, Fried, Folty & others.

  21. Yes, Hamels does a 1 year with Philly.
    Why not?
    He’s already a hero there.

  22. Beautiful sunsets, beaches an incredible ballpark and pitching for your hometown Padres…

    SD homecoming for Strasburg and Hamels

    Rotation:

    Strasburg
    Hamels
    Richards
    Paddack
    Lamet

    Lauer,Luchesi,eventually Gore in the pen and spot starting

  23. Cole come home to the Phillies they need you. Phillies ownership sign him back up.

    1

  27. I see Hamels having another good year or so. 42 innings of injury riddled play isn’t a good way to project a pitchers production. He pitched extremely well the beginning of the season before he starting having issues

  28. If Brodie Van Wagenen really wants to compete in 2020, this would be an ideal signing. There’s almost no risk when it’s a 1yr contract. I think a rotation of DeGrom, Syndergaard, Hamels, Strowman & Matz would be substantially better than most other rotations.

    Here’s to hoping that this one gets done but wouldn’t be surprised if the Mets passed……..as they usually do, smfh.

    2

  29. Throwing out a signal to teams like Braves that don’t like making big commitments that he’ll play for a big one-year salary, think he could clear $20m for a single year very easily. I think he’d risk a QO in situation like that but I guess he wouldn’t mind accepting one, he may have even communicated to Cubs that he would accept and maybe that’s why they did not offer.

  30. Would be nice to have Cole back in Philly. Certainly has some risk to it as he should be able to command close to 20mil on a short term deal and there is no guarantee he can give you 200 innings, It would be a lot of fun if it works out tho, so I say what the heck…let’s do it….

    1

  31. I believe he will got the Phillies but I would love for my Dodgers to get him. His experience could be very helpful to this young team. I believe Hill may come back as reliever but could very well be gone also, I also think Ryu is a goner. I feel like a broke record with the Dodgers, I love Buehler, he’s the future and the kid is a beast, he doesn’t buckle under pressure and seems to pitch better in big games unlike Kershaw, I think we have to go after after Strausburg or Cole. If we can land one of those guys, have that 1/2 punch of one of those guys with Buehler have this guy join the rotation on a one year deal he would be a good number 3 option for the playoffs. Obviously Kershaw is one of the best pitchers if not RB best pitcher in regular season I’ve ever seen so he could help us get to the playoffs again but once the playoffs start he can be slotted in the number 4 spot where we might not even need him and if we do just have it be a couple innings. I do think Hammels goes back to the Phillies but would love if we could make that happen in LA.

    On a side note, not related but…who do you guys think the Angels get? I actually think they land Cole or Strausburg and Ryu also.

    1

  32. Oh…looks like Bean Counter Hal Steinbrenner may have just found the alternative to spending big bucks on someone that actually can help the Yankees win a WS.

    Cole Hamels, Gerritt Cole…both have Cole in the name. He’ll keep Yankee fans strung on saying they’re in on Cole. Little will Yankee fans know he meant the former until it’s too late.

    As a Yankee fan…LOL sad face head shake eye roll.

  33. Win-now leaves a handful of real options: Yankees, Houston, Dodgers, Braves and the defending champions. I could see Oakland, Tampa, and Minnesota in the mix as well.

  34. Maybe he could plunk Bryce in BP, because that’s, you know, old school.

  35. Hamels will end up with one of three teams……Padres, Angels, Dodgers.

  36. With five teams going to the playoffs in both leagues You would have to think at least 15 teams have a win now philosophy. The are about 5 mediocre teams and about 10 teams that are bad to awful.

    Even teams, like the Padres, that haven’t won as many as 80 games since 2010 are a win now. What people don’t understand is there are so many bad teams that an OK team can win 85 games. If things break right for an OK team, they can win 90+ games.

    Any team trying to win, can win if things break right.

  37. Would love him on the Braves roster as well as Bumgarner.;

    Bumgarner
    Soroka
    Hamels
    Folytnewicz
    Fried

    • I don’t think the braves would go after bad, although we love us some vets on 1 year deals. Ur rotation looks solid, but I’d move Soroka as our true ace. But I get why you have it lined up like this… L R L R L. Makes sense.

      1

      • Yes, that’s exactly why I have it this way. I love this rotation although I’m afraid it’s just a dream, then you have a few others in the background as back up such as Newcomb, Toussaint.

  39. If he’s willing to win now and sign a 1 year deal, I’m more open to wanting him on the braves. Wasn’t too excited about a multi year deal that trade rumors was project him to get with the braves ….. I just don’t think he’ll make the impact braves fans hope he does and Snit love over using his vets, which concerns me more

  40. Klentak needs to make that call. I think a reunion with the Phillies is likely. Other destinations could be LA, SD & Anahiem

  42. I am a Phillies fan and I like Bryce Harper but Hammels can’t go back to philly because he is not a good player did you see the Phillies game at citizens bank park against the Cubs in the 2018 season where he pitched only 1 inning against the Phillies

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