18 months ago, Cole Hamels was an $18MM pitcher. Back in December 2019, the Braves signed the veteran southpaw to a one-year contract, just shy of his 36th birthday. Atlanta headed into Spring Training with Hamels, Mike Soroka, Max Fried, and Mike Foltynewicz as rotation locks, with Sean Newcomb, Felix Hernandez, and others competing for the fifth starter job.
2020 did not go as planned for just about anyone, and Cole Hamels was no exception. He reported to camp with irritation in his left shoulder stemming from an offseason workout. The expected normal Opening Day was ruled out, and by April 6th Hamels was said to be pain-free, and he was expected to be ready for the “new” Opening Day. However, triceps tendinitis popped up, and Hamels wouldn’t make his lone Braves start until September 16th. He returned to the IL with shoulder fatigue after the 52-pitch outing. The Braves’ contract with Hamels was tied with Marcell Ozuna as the largest one-year deal of the 2019-20 offseason, and the club got nothing to show for it.
So, what’s the word on Hamels? He’s not anywhere close to contributing to an MLB team, but at least he’s somewhere, throwing a baseball. According to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, the lefty “continues to throw off a mound and is building up every day but has not scheduled a showcase yet.” I assume that if Hamels can show MLB teams he still has the ability to throw around 91 miles per hour, interest should be plentiful in a year where pitching depth is especially compromised. The injuries will only continue to mount over the next few months.
How many current MLB rotation members are older than Cole Hamels? Just four: Rich Hill, Adam Wainwright, J.A. Happ, and Zack Greinke. Hopefully we haven’t seen the last of Hamels, but his 15-year career will probably at least merit a few Hall of Fame votes.
Cardinals could use him considering Flaherty’s injury, Gant’s unsustainable walk rate, Martinez’s wild inconsistency, and Kim’s inability to throw strikes
I was thinking this, bit given there current issues with starting pitching health Idk of they’d take this type of risk? It is in the realm of possibility.
Gant is a beast, hated he got away from the Braves..
I’d hate for a pitcher of Cole’s caliber to just fade away during the offseason. I’d love for him to have a solid final stretch somewhere.
Couches be any worse than Matt Moore or Chase Andersen?
Wtf with my typing skills??? Could he be any worse than Chase Andersen or Matt Moore?
Too be fair, I didn’t think Chase Anderson and Matt Moore could be as bad as they currently are.
Matt Moore was solid for a little bit but fell
What’s his stance on Spider Tack?
End it in Philly! Come back Cole
Watch him go to the Rays and pick up right where Glassnow left off.
I hope he does
Hamels looks 45 in that picture
I will forever represent my man, Hamels. Hot take: He’s a HOFer.
he’s borderline at worst imo
I think both Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels will join their former rotation mate in Roy Halladay as hall of famers…
Unfortunately though, I think their former Philly rotation mate could get left out in Roy Oswalt..Although it would be cool to see all four of them make it..
Think about it, FOUR hall of famers, and they didn’t make it past the 1st Round of the playoffs in 2011..For shame lol
I don’t really think that’s all that hot of a take. He’s been really good for a long period of time.
For the record, I still cannot believe the 2011 Phillies didn’t make it out of the NLDS WITH Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, AND Roy Oswalt. Not to mention, they also had a young Vance Worley who looked really good as well, and they had Brad Lidge and Ryan Madsen to close out games, and Kendrick and Bastardo too..
That was one of the most dominant rotations in baseball, and it wasn’t like their lineup was mincemeat with Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Hunter Pence, Shane Victorino, Jimmy Rollins, Chooch Ruiz, Placido Polanco, Raul Ibanez, and John Mayberry off the bench
Don’t remind me. There’s a reason a book giving the Phillies history is titled “Occasional Glory”.
Pence is my guy!! Left for SF the next year to complete the next 2 SF WS teams
A very good pitcher, but I can’t construct a compelling case for him based on peak or longevity.
HOF? 163 career wins and no CYAs. Hamels never struck me as a pitcher that teams would fear as an opposing pitcher.
He’s actually close to the borderline. His NLCS and WS MVPs would help his case. If he could come back and notch 6 to 10 more WAR I think he’d make it.
two more solid years and i think he’s in.
If he could pitch like 2019 Hamels, he’d make a serious case imo.
He is looking up at Rick Reuschel, Kevin Brown, David Cone, Kevin Appier, Chuck Finley just to name 5. A guy you would want on your team almost any year he pitched. Hall of Very Good.
Cole = jon lester except Lester having a bit more playoff success ,but still no cy awards. Both are a hard swallow for the hall, but both also could get in. I guess we will have to wait and see
Yes! Someone sign Cole Hamels! I need him for my “”All older than me team”!
And I need Verlander to make an appearance this year. If I were an MLB player, I would really want to avoid having any years on my baseball card where I did not pitch. It is good for Hamels that he made one appearance last year.
AA should bring him back. Have this team finish in last so they can continue salivating over prospects.
Astros could use him in the bullpen.
Where’s the Cole Hamels guy that wants his team to sign him?
Cole Hamels should be seeing what the Giants have done with aging pitchers and be able to overachieve…..he should go there.
Hamels, Felix and Bartolo, its not to late AA.