After losing almost all of the 2020 season to a shoulder injury, Cole Hamels remained on the free agent market for months recuperating. Upon returning to health, he signed a major league contract with the Dodgers earlier this month. Just a few weeks later, renewed shoulder pain during his ramp-up work ended his 2021 season before it began.
In the wake of that latest setback, it was fair to wonder whether Hamels would contemplate retirement. That won’t be the case, however, as Jon Heyman of the MLB Network (Twitter link) reports that the 37-year-old intends to make another comeback effort.
There’s no specific timetable for Hamels’ return from this latest injury. He’ll reach free agency at the end of the season and will presumably need to conduct at least one showcase for potential suitors whenever he’s healthy. His form in those looks could well determine whether Hamels will be able to land a big league deal again this time around.
The odds of Hamels returning to his All-Star peak form are very low, but it’s not inconceivable he could yet be a decent back-of-the-rotation option. Before these last couple years, Hamels was one of the game’s most durable arms. The southpaw rather remarkably made twenty or more starts and tallied 130+ innings in every season from 2006-19. And during his most recent healthy season, Hamels was still quite productive. With the Cubs in 2019, he worked to a 3.81 ERA over 141 2/3 frames. Given that Hamels has been an exemplar of consistency for the majority of his career and was still capable of performing well when last physically able to pitch, it’s not hard to understand his impulse to try and make another run in 2022.
he should keep the dodgers in his cell phone…. just in case.
Thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
Hope the Dodgers got their money back
The Dodgers are paying Tommy Kahnle, 2x the AAV they paid Hamels. He had TJS in 2020.
I don’t think Kasten and company, sweat over $1 million.
That’s less than 0.5% of their yearly budget.
Even the pirates cut Polanco a $2 million check to go away, this week.
That was intentional so they could have him next year
Tstats Or to keep him away from other contenders just in case he could pitch.
Both/and yk?
Not sure the Dodgers will really have need for Hamels. But we’ll see how the Bauer situation plays out. And how much interest they have in Max. With Gonsolin healthy they will have four starters. I have been impressed by this young pitcher Jackson so far. They need to get younger not older.
Mad Maxwell is a good investment over Kershaw. But my move would be giving Verlander closer title and paying him assuming HOU doesn’t QO him
Sign both. Make Treinan the closer. Though, KJ’s velocity is up and with the exception of that two week or so total meltdown, he has had a very good season.
Based on what I’ve read the Bauer situation isn’t going to end well. But I think if they go after someone it will be someone who hasn’t stayed healthy in few years. As much as I would like him to stay a met syndagard fits nicely into that rotation.
Go play in another league then. Lord, just robbing money and stealing another kids dream at this point…
When I was in Little League, I once struck out the side…
Still hoping for that call from some MLB club.
That was you???
Yup! I think I got you with a good, high 46 mph heater!
I hear the call from the Sussex County Miners. Cole could start Opening Day, up there, and double his salary if he agrees to be the Pitching Coach as well.
A million dollars just for his autograph I’m sure he does plan on another comeback
With the ridiculous number of injuries and lost seasons these days, they need to start a new award. The ‘Cole Hamels Award’. Last year it would have been the Corey Kluber Award with apologies to Justin Verlander.
Hamels looked at the pitching rubber and his season was over.
Yanks get him.
Gerrit’s magic rubs on Hamels
“Gerrit Cole Hamels”
Legit LOL’d on that one and almost spit out the malt liquor I’ve been drinking tonight
“Magic” does it stick to Cole?
Don’t call it a comeback. He’ll be at this for years. He’s left handed and old so no one has fears. That he’ll be washed up. The last year was a hiccup. He only signs contracts without a prenup. He’s gonna get paid. Cuz when you’re left handed and old your services get sold. And that’s his trade.
Gangsta boogie, gangsta boogie, gangsta boogie, gangsta boogie.
i mean, why not on a Minors deal? LAD were the fool for guaranteeing him money, tbh.
Dark you don’t think any other teams offered an MLB contract?
presumably – and to be honest they were all kinda foolish for that
Whatever, dude.
Only the rich can take a chance on him. Boston perhaps. Be nice seeing the Sox miss the postseason BTW. Wish Toronto or Seattle would make it. Very slim chances though
Hammels just refuses to give in to father time, kind of like Lester. I’d take a chance on retired John Lackey, who was still effective before either of them, if he spent the winter working out, but he knows he had a good career and is done, unlike those other 2 who attempt to keep on going.
He should not be paid unless he actually pitches. That will end this ridiculous garbage.
The Dodgers sort of tried that. But they tossed him a mil and just said “we’ll throw in another 200k for every start!”
Hamels just seemed to be okay with just the mil though.
Some guys just never know when to walk away.
Why walk away when there’s somebody willing to pay you?
I wish he would simply retire
A “ conceivable decent back of the rotation option” rather would be Bartolo Colon. At least Bartolo probably still windup, throw and hit the catchers mitt without busting something else in his body. Hamels is done.
Cole Hamels is such a fraud
As a Phillies fan, I am grateful to have watched everything he accomplished. He was the the 2008 WS MVP and tossed a no-no against the Cubs are among them. Quite the career. However, the fat lady has sung more than once for him and somebody needs to tell him that. Enjoy your retirement and thanks.
He’s been a human walk machine for years, check out his walks per nine since 2016. Hasn’t been an elite pitcher if he ever was since 2014.
A little above average, but nothing touching 4 BB/9 IP.
Will he give the Dodgers a full refund
Minus expenses, of course
I hope that he’s not dong this because he needs the money. Sometimes I wonder about how much guys like this (who have made upwards of $100m in their career) save and if they are all set for life or if they have less in the bank than we suppose.
Contract based on innings pitched only.
Orioles sign him, wins Cy Young in 2022. You heard it here first.
Mutts will sign him and he will take them to the 2022 WS LOL
So sad seeing these uneducated rubes clinging to their long-gone athletic careers due to parochial parvanimity that never had them develop any considerable interests and skills other than hanging out in snot-smeared dugouts in company of their fellow Neanderthals.
Hamels ($204 MM career earnings + full MLB pension) could do anything he wanted if he only had a little imagination outside of tossing balls from a mound.
And yet he has $204 million and you’re here criticizing on a message board for not thinking outside of the box…OK. Never mind that the guy wants to keep playing and has his own charity foundation or anything.
Why not? Steve Carlton stuck around for years after his prime. He later admitted that it was strictly for the money.
And that’s fine. Posters here may sneer at it, but 99.9% of them would do the same. Getting paid thousands of dollars to deal with aches and pains and a bruised ego. Most people here would take that in a heartbeat and not look back.
Let’s see, took Atlanta’s money and now the Dodgers…. I don’t have a lot of respect for players that play this con…
So the issue is that his shoulder hurts? Vague enough to stay away if you’re smart.
Con Artist, that should be his nickname for player’s weekend jersey
What’s your jersey read? “Bitter & Jealous?”
Hamels’ primary mentor coming into the league was Jamie Moyer, so I could see him hanging around for quite a while. For those bashing him and saying that he’s stealing money, he didn’t hand out those contracts, he simply signed them. Why is the onus completely on the player all of the sudden if something goes wrong?
Also, for those stating that ‘he’s garbage,’ his track record shows that he has been nothing less than great to solid if healthy. His last full run with the Cubs was excellent in fact. Hence why the Braves gave him $18 million in the first place.
Sorry that Cole dominated your favorite team (Mets, Braves, Nationals, Marlins) or that you got burned on a contract with him (Braves, Dodgers) but he has every right to continue his career as he sees fit. I personally am rooting for him to find health and success again and wish him nothing but the best. The hate he’s getting is truly unjustified.
Good take, @brew.
To quote the late Ed Asner playing Lou Grant, “I hate spunk.”
The Twins are looking for pitchers … he can’t be any worse than Happless or Shoemaker
Hey Cole your career is over so enjoy your money from last Major League Contract that you won’t be earning from the Dodgers & only a fool would give you another MLB Contract going forward