Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
January 17, 2009
Hamels Signs
Cole Hamels

Cole Hamels
Photo: Icon SMI

Via BBTF, the Phillies buy out Cole Hamels arbitration years:
Hamels will receive $4.35 million in 2009, $6.65 million in 2010 and $9.5 million in 2011. Though a long-term contract, this deal buys out none of Hamels' free-agent seasons. But it does allow the Phillies to avoid salary arbitration with their ace at a time when they are still facing cases with Ryan Madson, Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth and - most notably - Ryan Howard, who could earn $15 million or more in the process.

Hamels, 25, went 14-10 for the World Series winners last year, and then excelled in the playoffs by going 4-0 in five starts with a 1.80 ERA. He was the MVP of both the NLCS and World Series.

Wow. Hamels gave up a lot; I would expect he'd make at least $8 million in arbitration this year. I guess it's worth it to be able to become a free agent at a young age.

Update: I hand't realized Hamels was a super-two. He'll have one more year of arbitration after this deal expires. I suspect if he's still pitching well, that will give Philaldelphia a good reason to sign him to a long term contract.


Posted by David Pinto at 03:11 PM | Transactions | TrackBack (0)
Comments

yeah, hamels does have a year of arbitration left after this contract expires.

you say he gave up a lot, but according to jason stark, this deal has the highest average annual value ever for a pitcher with this amount of service time.

it also is supposedly loaded with incentive clauses, and i'm sure hamels values the security over 3 years...which will pay him more than a one year-$8mil arbitration case (assuming he even wins the case).

Posted by: benjah at January 17, 2009 05:25 PM

I would guess that being just past the Injury Nexus, Hamels may have some nervousness about all of his injury concerns from the minors and wants to cash in a bit while he can. Especially smart since he isn't really giving up any of the big money Free Agency years...

Posted by: Aaron at January 17, 2009 05:33 PM
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