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.
