A handful of free agent hurlers threw for scouts this afternoon in Arlington, tweets Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Cole Hamels, Derek Holland and Kyle Crick each worked out for clubs in search of an opportunity.
Hamels, who turned 39 last month, is obviously the highest-profile of the bunch. One of the top pitchers in the game during his peak with the Phillies, Hamels is a four-time All-Star and former World Series MVP. He was an exemplar of durability throughout his peak, starting 30+ games each season from 2008-16. Hamels missed a bit of time with the 2017 Rangers and 2019 Cubs but still topped 140 innings in both years, with a 32-start showing sandwiched in between.
Unfortunately, the veteran southpaw has had virtually nothing go his way the past few seasons. Signed to a one-year deal by the Braves in 2020, Hamels was limited to just one appearance by shoulder issues. He lingered in free agency until August of the following season, when he caught on with the Dodgers on a $1MM contract. Hamels’ first comeback attempt was derailed within weeks by renewed shoulder discomfort, and he returned to the open market over the 2021-22 offseason.
The 15-year MLB veteran required surgery on his shoulder and didn’t sign for 2022. While initial reports last offseason suggested he could factor into the mix by the end of the summer, he eventually turned his attention to the upcoming season. Throughout the process, Hamels has maintained interest in a comeback, even as he told the Associated Press last month he’s also undergone operations on his right knee and left foot. It seems he’s now healthy enough to get back on a mound, where clubs will evaluate whether his current form warrants a minor league contract.
Holland also has over a decade of MLB experience. The 36-year-old has played for six different clubs over a 13-year big league career. He had some success as a starter early on with the Rangers and committed to a full-time bullpen role in 2019. The southpaw soaked up plenty of innings out of the ’pen for the Giants, Cubs, Pirates and Tigers from 2019-21 but allowed nearly six earned runs per nine altogether in that stretch. He spent last season in Triple-A in the Red Sox and Blue Jays organizations, combining for a 5.77 ERA with a 22.8% strikeout rate in 39 innings at the top minor league level. Released by Toronto around the All-Star Break, he didn’t pitch during the season’s second half.
Crick has the most recent big league experience of the group. The 30-year-old righty has pitched in the majors in each of the last six seasons, including 14 outings with the White Sox last year. His final outing came in mid-June, though, as he was placed on the injured list with inflammation in his throwing elbow. He hit minor league free agency at season’s end once Chicago ran through waivers. Crick had a couple excellent seasons to start his career with the Giants and Pirates in 2017-18; he owns a 4.47 ERA in exactly 100 big league outings since the beginning of the 2019 campaign.
Call the law office of Hamels, Holland & Crick.
Or Dewey,Cheatem,and Howe
Hungerdunger, Hungerdunger, Hungerdunger, and McCormick.
Better call Saul
Can someone please pay Cole Hamels $19 million? That’s his going rate for 4 outs over 3 seasons. It’s true because owners make too much so players can never be overpaid. Hell. If he makes 5 outs that’s a 4 year deal. Why are these idiot owners not making that investment?
Or Weir, Crooks, and Lovette
@MendozaLine Where’s Curly when you need him? LOL
Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk
In the case of these three, they are probably injury attorneys: “You pitch, so we don’t have to.”
Would be pretty cool to see Hamels back in Philadelphia. Though I’m not so sure the Phillies need him as they already have a plethora of nice options for the 5/6 in that rotation?
He said he’d even be open to a bullpen role, but I don’t see him as a fit in Philly. It would be really neat though. He’d be a great pitching coach as well.
Phillies have options but I’d hope they would be willing to give him a chance at a minor league deal. If they don’t have a spot at least let him try out for other teams in SP/Minors if he has an opt out. Giving the franchise icon a shot out of mutual respect would be a cool move, and maybe they catch lightning in a bottle.
Nope to all 3..saw a report that Hamels was throwing 88 during the showcase. I don’t know who would take a shot on that from a guy who hasn’t pitched in 3 years..and the other two have proven they don’t have it anymore..
88 mph is actually quite good for a workout, it means he could build to 90 mph by the time the season starts… However, at 39, I doubt his command and durability will be the same.
88, from a lefty, should not be an issue. Jamie Moyer pitched until he was 49. His Fastball below averaged 79-82 over his career.
If healthy, I could see Hamels as an effective Swiss Army pitcher working primarily out of the bullpen with multi-inning appearances.
I mean, Rich Hill has managed to be a roughly league average arm in his advanced age yet is averaging like 88 with his four-seamer. Granted, he still has one of baseball’s better curveballs. Unless Hamles still has a devestating breaking ball or Bartolo Colon-like command, he’s gonna need one or the other to succeed.
Two other pitchers who don’t/didn’t throw hard but we’re still successful are Zack Greinke and Tommy John. If the knuckleball makes a comeback, there would be a lot less tj surgeries.
To be fair, Tommy John pitched from the early-60s through the mid-80s. The average fastball velo then was way slower than it is today. Working 82-85 MPH then when the average velo was probably like 88 wasn’t as big of a difference as today when it’s like 93-94 MPH. But Greinke did do well last year. But like Colon, he’s a guy soley relying on elite command. It’s not impossible, just after three years of basically not pitching, I don’t know if Hamels has elite command.
It’s not all about velocity. One of the hardest throwers we’ve ever known was an excellent finesse/location SP, too (Frank Tanana).
The Rangers are signing every journeyman looking for a couple of Comeback players.
I say somebody will probably take a minor league deal flier on Hamels..what’s the worst that could happen..it doesn’t work out? His days of getting a huge contract have passed by but a minor league deal should be doable.
Not sure Hamels would accept a minor league deal at this point in his career. Feels like he wants one more shot in the big leagues to go out on his own terms. I could see a league minimum deal for him with incentives for innings pitched but that’s about it.
Baseball and Nostalgia, they go hand-in-checkbook.
Hamels has made over 210m and Holland over 45m. Both are washed up. Being left handed was the only reason Holland kept finding jobs the last five seasons. Crick has serious arm issues.
Pass, Pass and Pass!
Hasn’t Krick been plagued with neck problems?
Could just be a Crick in his neck.
There’s no reason for the Reds to pass on Hamels. Worst case scenario he mentors the young pitchers there. Best case he has a great first half, and they flip him to a contender
..or neither and he pitches like 12 innings and goes on LTIR
Ditto for the Tigers
Padres will miss out on all 3
Good, don’t need any of those dead arms! Especially Hamels, he’s a 40 day DL waiting to happen.
Thats fine, not missing out on much. Padres bullpen is already loaded. They could use another starter who can eat innings, but I don’t think that’s Hamels who has thrown a grand total of 3.1 innings over the past 3 years.
Hamels is also from San Diego but considers the Dodgers his hometown team and when asked about signing with the Padres once said, “Why would I want to go where fans only support you from the third inning through the sixth?”. I wouldn’t really be thrilled about them signing a guy who trash talked SD’s fans to the press.
I mean, it’s not like Hamels choked his baby momma and smacked her around a few times before hurling his dip spit on his infant child
Bauer and Clev were in Cleveland together…maybe they traded secrets?
Too soon?
Yea, he’s whole take on the 3rd-6th deal is the Blue&Gray days.
Brown&Gold good luck getting a ticket and you better get there early.
He’s had “virtually nothing go his way?”
Signed a 1 year deal for over $6M and made one appearance. Signed a one year deal for $1M and never played. He gets paid to rest, rehab and get treatment. I’m sure he’s in pain/discomfort but this is a decent version of having “virtually nothing” go your way.
The headline of this article doubles as a feel-good story 😛
I hear Mark Prior and Kerry Wood have a showcase later this week too