Homegrown Hamels Staying With Phillies, Signs 6-Year Deal

An article by Craig Lerner

Despite all the speculation that Cole Hamels would bolt for free agency, or that the Philadelphia Phillies would not be able to afford him, the two sides agreed to a six-year contract extension for $144 million, according to what major-league sources have reported to Ken Rosenthal.

The Phillies are expected to make the official announcement later today.

Rosenthal adds that the deal is the second largest ever awarded to a starting pitcher, trailing only the seven-year, $161 free-agent contract that left-hander CC Sabathia signed with the New York Yankees on Dec. 11, 2008.

By signing the contract, Hamels will ensure that he will not be traded before the non-waiver deadline Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, remaining with the team that made him the 17th overall pick in the 2002 draft.

Hamels, 28, was the MVP of the 2008 World Series, the Phillies’ first championship since 1980. He is 11-4 with a 3.23 ERA this season, 85-58 with a 3.39 ERA in his seven-year career.

With Dempster and now Hamels off the market, Greinke is now the top target for teams who need a top of rotation pitcher. It stinks that the Phillies kept him, as I was hoping to see him go to the AL. So both top available pitchers go to our division rivals and the Nats are looking at Greinke.

About the Author: Craig Lerner

I'm a data analyst and researcher for a leading news agency who loves life and is hooked on the Mets. I love following the Amateur Draft and have a particular fondness for the Mets Minor Leagues who I follow each day. Give me a cold beer, a summer day, and a Mets game, and I'm good to go.

7 Comments + Add Comment

jessep July 25, 2012 at 11:03 am

Now lets see if they move Cliff Lee as they should. Will somebody take that contract?
Kranepool7 July 25, 2012 at 11:14 am

Nothing to see here. Big market teams dont always let their best young players walk the way the Mets did. Keeping their best guys is what team like the Phillies and Yankees are supposed to do. This wasn’t about salvaging this season, the Phils aren’t going anywhere but keeping Hamels was a bold move by their GM to say to their fans we’ll be back in 2013. More than anything Alderson could ever say.
- jessep July 25, 2012 at 11:25 am
  
  Remember the time the David Montgomery lost hundred of millions of dollars in a ponzi scheme and was being sued and had to settle and the team was bleeding cash?
srt July 25, 2012 at 11:26 am

So if I have this right, the Phillies have 4 players going into 2013 that come to just about 90 MIL.

I guess when you’re the Yankees of the NL, it doesn’t really matter.
- Donal July 25, 2012 at 12:09 pm
  
  Yankees of the NL? Might be exaggerating a bit there.
  - stick July 25, 2012 at 3:42 pm
    
    Payroll wise (which is what she was referring to), no not exaggerating.
    
    that is a lot for a few guys, but look at it this way.
    
    they have 4 top guys locked up, and they still have the mets payroll (all of it) left for the other 21 bodies.
Metsie July 25, 2012 at 1:35 pm

So the Phillies aren’t folding up thier tent and keeping one of their key players?

Some muct be thinking this to be a major Blunder on thier part after what they have said in the past!

NL East Standings

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB
Braves	22	18	.550	-
Nationals	22	19	.537	0.5
Phillies	19	22	.463	3.5
Mets	15	23	.395	6.0
Marlins	11	30	.268	11.5

Last updated: 05/17/2013

MMO Mets Chat

Need Tickets To The Mets Game?

Check Out These Great MLB Links!

For wholesale prices on New York Mets gifts and equipment, check these stores out!
Mets Autograph Signings
Mets Fan Apparel
Mets Autographed Baseballs
Baseball Card Supplies
Baseball Equipment

For the best seats and lowest MLB ticket prices, go to PurchaseSeats.com. Get your Mets Tickets now and follow them on the road with Yankees Tickets, Phillies Tickets, Nationals Tickets and Braves Tickets!