Philadelphia Phillies Reportedly Prepping Monster Offer for Cole Hamels

After months of trade rumors surrounding ace Cole Hamels, the Philadelphia Phillies are still holding out hope that they can sign the 28-year-old left-hander to a contract extension.

According to Jayson Stark of ESPN, the Phillies are preparing a major offer to keep Hamels in Philadelphia.

Hamels is 10-4 with a 3.20 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 118 strikeouts in 118 innings this season. This follows up a 2011 campaign that saw him go 14-9 with a 2.79 ERA and 0.99 WHIP while throwing 216 innings.

The veteran, who is in his seventh season in the league, is a free agent after this season, and he hasn’t been able to agree on an extension with the Phillies yet leading up to the trade deadline, leading many to believe he’s on his way out. 

But if the Phillies lose Hamels, it appears it certainly won’t be due to lack of effort.

Hamels talked about free agency before the All-Star break, via ESPN’s Jayson Stark:

“Every human being wants to know what their value is, in whatever job they’re doing. If you get to do it, it’s a pretty cool experience.”

The Phillies will likely have to offer Hamels a mega offer if they expect to keep him. While he has been with the team for a while, he has a lot of leverage right now, given his production throughout the years and the fact that there’s likely heavy interest out there.

The Texas Rangers are reportedly rumored to be in the mix for Hamels if he is traded, and contenders such as the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds could go after him as well.

The Phillies’ slinger is certainly a wanted man these days.

 

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