There has been no movement on the Phillies' part to restart contract extension talks with Cole Hamels, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). It's unclear if they're loading up to make a big offer or have been spooked by his asking price.
Last week we heard that the two sides hadn't had talks in 30 days. The Phillies offered their 28-year-old left-hander Jered Weaver money (five years, $85MM), but Matt Cain's extension with the Giants (five years, $112.5MM) raised the bar. With Cain locked up, Hamels will be the premier free agent pitcher if the hits the open market after the season.
Dodgersarelife
He is a dodger this time next year..
dylanp5030
Behind Cain and Votto right?
Phillies_Aces35
Meh.
6kitties
One can only hope!
Tired_OF_FakeRumors
I dont think the Phillies have enough money left or are willing to spent even MORE money for hamels. Maybe if its Heavy Back loaded they can afford it.
dylanp5030
They can afford it, but question is if they are willing to do it being that their offense needs a boost at LF or 3B next year (CF as well if Shane leaves)
rainyperez
He’s going to be maybe a Dodger regardless of his comments about L.A. The Dodgers will need a desperation move sign because they will need to show that they mean business after a Two Billion Dollar purchase.
aemoreira81
What about the Diamondbacks? He could really complement their young staff.
FillyPhan
“He’s going to be maybe”. Thats a very definitive statement sorta kinda.
Jonny
Signing him to a fair contract (nothing more than a 120 mill over 6 years) could be a very good idea. Anything more than that? Make use of him for the first three months of the season and then trade him at the all-star break. Criticize me all you want buy the phillies, if they can’t get him to sign, need to trade him to Boston, New York, Texas or LA and get something for the guy.
If the phillies could trade him to say Boston and get a package of Daniel Bard, Will Middlebrooks and Xander Bogaerts they have to consider it. With Utley and Howard aging the phillies need to think about the future. They will still be very competitive with or without Hamels considering the pitching talent they have in the minors. Also remember phillies still need to lock up Pence and resign or replace Shane Victorino in the offseason.
6kitties
That’s the spirit! Trade the youngest and most talented pitcher developed by the team in decades that actually delivered a championship. Amaro knew this day was coming and he did nothing about it. For Cole Hamels to be expendable is just mind boggling. Could have used the bat everyone is clamoring for when they signed Cliff Lee who hasn’t won any championships yet.
Clayton Wilson
You do know that one guy doesn’t win championships, right? Lee has made 6 postseason starts for the Phillies and I’m pretty sure that only one of those were bad(2011 NLDS). He was tremendous for them in 2009, there’s nothing else he could’ve possibly done to ‘win’ a championship for them.
And speaking of 2009, I vaguely remember Hamels sucking quite a bit in the postseason and then saying that he’s ready for the season to be over with.
User 4245925809
” Daniel Bard, Will Middlebrooks and Xander Bogaerts they have to consider it”
Fantasy land. Boston has a solid 1-3. If they even bother going after him as a FA, it won’t be after they send Philly the 2 top prospects and a rotational replacement.
They unloaded the farm system for the best all around 1b in the game, who they were almost certain would sign an extension with them. There is almost 100% chance they would never do that for something they are not in dire need of.. Another top notch starter they have 3 of.. They need 2 back end starters if anything, not another front ender.
Edit:
Fixed typo described by EastCoast noted below 🙂
East Coast Bias
I think a “100% no chance” is called a 0% chance, john haha
User 4245925809
HAHAHAHAHA Leave it me to make a typo like that. Cheers.
MaineSox
While I agree Boston never makes that trade, I don’t agree that they would be looking for back-end type pitchers if they add a pitcher. They have plenty of back end type talent in the system (besides Bard and Doubront they have Padilla, Cook, Wilson, and Ohlendorf), so if they look outside of the organization for pitching Hamels would be exactly the type of pitcher they would be looking for.
The reason they wouldn’t make that trade is because of the amount of talent (and years of control) they would be sending to Philly for only half a year of pitcher that would be very expensive to retain at the end of the year if they decided to do so.
Philly isn’t going to trade Hamels at the deadline anyway; they are basically certain to be in contention at the deadline and they’ll keep him until the end of the year, even if they can’t re-sign him, to try to make the post season/win a world series. Then they will just get the compensation picks when he leaves.
User 4245925809
Mis-comunico some on my part some at that proposal.. It really blew me away Maine for obvious reasons…
Yes. I could see them getting someone who could be controlled, or they could sign and control, I do NOT see them emptying the farm for a rental SP under any circumstances, especially with the new CBA and it’s restrictions.
You did a very nice job pointing out how they have a full load of talented back end people at the farm (for now) until some decide to opt out if they do and they also have Miller making rehab appearances which don’t think anyone here has mentioned yet. Matsuzaka getting closer and closer.. Just far too many people to give away the top end prospects for someone like Hamels that will be a FA in November.
Alex Lee
make no mistake about it, the Phillies have a $3-4 billion+ tv contract waiting in the wings. they have the highest local ratings in baseball and the league’s best attendance. they can afford anyone. if they let him walk, it will be because they weren’t comfortable overpaying, not because they couldn’t…
Mark Poserina
100% on the money. This TV deal is going to put the Phils in Yankee territory when it comes to payroll if they aren’t there already.
MaineSox
They aren’t quite Yankees territory, but they go back and forth with the Red Sox for second place.
User 4245925809
Something that would be an interesting topic here is TV money deal and I would like to see one of the fantastic writers here make a topic out of that one day.. Tim? Ben? Mike? Perhaps one could go into some detail and not only make a topic what is publicly known about how much teams make from the media deals (TV and audio) but which teams also *own* one of the media outlets like Boston does NESN and is able to double dip with profits.
fxx3605
considering the yankees are holding back due to luxury taxes i agree with mainesox
aemoreira81
As I said in the other thread—money will be no issue, but the luxury tax may well complicate matters, depending on how the money is spread out.
Phillies_Aces35
It’s all about the years.
joerut56
Sign Hamels that should be the end of it! Show him the money!
joerut56
Sign Hamels now…..show him the money and the years, he’s 28. If the Phils are serious about winning it all starts with pitching Let Victorino walk at the end of 2012 and SIGN HAMELS!
walker9
Either pay up or trade for power at third replace Utley and centerfielder. RAJ has loaded up salaries on pitching not leaving enough for hitting or new FA. With Hamels on board and Howard + Rollins we are almost 100+ mil in 5 players. We need hitting and a big trade could get it. Don’t get me wrong I love Hamels but he now may not want a to give a hometown discount with the Cain deal (was to much ).
RAJ need to face facts either suck up and eat luxury tax or make trade for offense and stop giving away the farm system. Pence is another what 7-8 mill not to mention Victorino which if they make good trade as mentioned before would take care of a lot of problems. GO Phils.
TripNines
I don’t see Amaro doing the deal. From what I heard (same man that told me Phillies were going to sign free agent, Cliff Lee) promising talks stalled after Dodger sale and NEW offer brought to table after Cain extension.
I think Amaro has a vindictive side to him so I wouldn’t be surprised if Hamles isn’t signed. Phils strength is in their pitching on both the big club and minor league teams. With no offensive prospects in the minors, I’d like to see Phillies move Hamels. Don’t know if Angels would go for it, but I’d love to a Hamels and Brown packaged for Mike Trout. He could be the center piece for this organization for the next dozen years.
Moving Hamels would also free up money for Victorino and an outfield of Pence Trout and Victorino would not be too shabby. That being said, I like Hamels, but not to the point of painting the Phillies into such a financial corner that John Middleton would just throw up his hands and say, no more.
walker9
I agree with you. I don’t know a lot about Mike Trout ( will look up ) but I absolutely think the Phils can get some good players with Hamels alone and like I said before can help their weak offensive hitting and fielding and farm system pretty quick.
They can sign three good players with the money Hamels will want and like you said our farm is good for pitching, but I don’t feel for offense so it’s time for RAJ to get an offensive and back off the pitching. If he can’t win with the way he is spending money I bet there are some very good general mangers out there who could bring us another championship. All they need to do is get some younger and good hitting guys and we would be dominate again( winning championships not just divisions )instead of going backwards. Like I said before I love Hamels but not at the price of another World Series.