Phillies reach deals with Hamels, Valdez
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Phillies reach deals with Hamels, Valdez
The Phillies have never been a team that cared much for arbitration hearings.
Their actions leading into today's 1 p.m. deadline to trade numbers with their eligible players seem to support that position.
The Phillies have agreed to a 1-year, $15 million contract with Cole Hamels and also have agreed to a 1-year, $950,000 deal with infielder Wilson Valdez.
CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman was the first to report the Hamels agreement.
According to Heyman, Hamels’ deal includes a number of incentive clauses: $100,000 grand for MVP, $250,000 for Cy Young, $100,000 for World Series MVP, $50,000 for LCS MVP, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger or All-Star appearance. Valdez' contract also includes award bonuses.
"I have got no indication that Cole wants to go anywhere and I think Cole knows we want to keep him," general manager Ruben Amaro said on the day the team signed Jimmy Rollins. "I think if you read the quotes I made about Jimmy, they're going to be the same.”
Hamels is definitively receptive to a long-term deal to remain with the Phillies. It is likely the two sides will talk again during spring training.
“It’s a competitive town and Cole Hamels is a real competitor,” said John Boggs, Hamels’ San Diego-based agent. “That’s what Philly is all about. They like competitors. At the end of the day, that’s the biggest attraction for him. That's why he loves it there.”
Hamels finished a 3-year, $20.5 million deal this past season in which he made $9.5 million. He went 14-9 with a 2.79 ERA, the lowest of his big-league career as part of the Phillies’ vaunted pitching rotation.
His 14 wins gave him at least 10 wins in five straight seasons making him the first Phillies pitcher to do so since Hall of Famer Steve Carlton’s 13-year streak from 1972-84.
He remains scheduled to become a free agent after the 2012 season. Indications were that the sides were interested in a long-term deal, and one could still happen.
Valdez, 33, made $560,000 last season and is in his first year of being arbitration-eligible. He hit .249 -- and .330 with runners in scoring position -- in 99 games, but his versatility was a significant boost to the Phillies as they dealt with injuries to Placido Polanco, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley. Valdez made 33 starts at second base, 21 at third base and 20 at shortstop.
The only other player eligible for arbitration is outfielder Hunter Pence. The sides can agree to a contract up to the start of the hearing, scheduled for the first two weeks in February. Pence filed at $11.8 million; the Phillies at $9 million. The arbitration panel must select either number.
"It's something you really don't focus on," Pence told the Daily News during his baseball camp last month in Texas. "My agents at Beverly Hills Sports Council take care of that. I trust them. I just focus on getting myself ready to play baseball."
Last winter, Pence became the first Astro since Rick Wilkins in 1996 to win an arbitration hearing. He made $6.9 million in 2011. Pence and the Astros went to a hearing last year.
1 year????— Rutgers82- $1M more than the compromise number. Too bad they didn't get a longer deal done. Is this in the works Murph?— 24sDad
- That's what I said Rutgers, 1 year? really.— phillynupe4
- Yes guys...there really, really was just one year of arbitration left...really like no fooling, really... — stan the man too
- Im thoroughly confused.— jamesiri
- maybe that's because you are a dope and do not understand professional sports financials? — jalinsgs
- 1 year to avoid arbitration. They are working on a longer contract.
— henry hill - So they are going to talk during spring training. Why wait? Because by then there will be some reading on the results of the surgery that Hamels went through this winter. There's a chance, albeit a small one, that he comes up lame this spring. What would you people be writing if that happened? All the experts with 20/20 hindsight would be asking "What was the hurry?" And they'd be right. See how he looks in the spring and then pay the man. Lock him up for the next four or five years.
Don't forget, We've got a franchise that players just love to play for. That's why Cliff Lee signed with the Phillies when the Yankees offered him more money. What did Hunter Pence say when he got here? Ask any player which team figures to have the best chance of winning the World Series this year, next year or the year after that? Believe it or not, it's the Phillies. Cole wants to be here playing in front of sold out stadiums every time out, with top notch defense behind him. They'll work it out. Just be patient. - Relax, people...they did this to avoid arbitration. No doubt they will get Cole locked up long term...— Buck Dharma
- WhyWouldHamelsAgreeToSignForOneYear?— Commonesnes
- @Commonesnes, it's just Commonsense... — stan the man too
- the Phillies should've just locked him up right now... give him the years and the cash. he deserves it... the only guy in philadelphia with a MVP/WS Championship. If he gets trade you better get the goods and if he can't be signed and heads to the yankees... im gonna be livid. get the deal done amaro. this kid knows how to pitch.— Apollo Creed
- Smart deal to avoid arbitration and, while I have clashed with our therapist friend in Florida, Mark, over Hamels, given that he did have surgery in the off-season, the Phillies would be wise to take it slow with him, and Hamels, if he is healthy and has a great season, stands to make Cliff Lee and Roy Halliday money.— chuckw
- Because he make a ton of money, pitch on a winning team, remain a key part of a team back on the cusp of a WS, and it things spoil, he can look for a way out or talk to management about their future plans before agreeing to a new long term deal. The Phils look him up for one year, look great, give him confidence, and hope that his arm wasn't affected by offseason operations. Win, win, win.— MichaelZoe
- Because he make a ton of money, pitch on a winning team, remain a key part of a team back on the cusp of a WS, and it things spoil, he can look for a way out or talk to management about their future plans before agreeing to a new long term deal. The Phils look him up for one year, look great, give him confidence, and hope that his arm wasn't affected by offseason operations. Win, win, win.— MichaelZoe
