Posted: Monday, January 19, 2009, 10:15 AM | 13 comments |
 

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Cole Hamels hugs wife Heidi after yesterday's news conference.

It's difficult to think about baseball today after a tough Eagles loss, but we move on ...

... Cole Hamels met with reporters before kickoff yesterday to discuss his three-year, $20.5 million contract extension. Good deal for both sides. Hamels gets financial security. He also keeps his final year of salary arbitration and free agency following the 2012 season. The Phillies get cost certainty the next couple off-seasons. That's big because they'll have a clearer picture of how much they can spend in the near future.

...Ryan Madson could be next. Sources indicate the Phillies and Madson continue to talk about an extension and a deal could happen soon.

... Just because the Phillies reached an agreement with Hamels doesn't mean Ryan Howard is next. Howard is looking for serious money. There was talk last year at this time that Howard was looking for A-Rod money. And I'm sure after leading the majors in home runs and RBIs in 2008 that his asking price hasn't fallen. But because Howard can't become a free agent until after 2011, the Phillies have time to make a deal. There's no rush. Something that's interesting about Howard's case is that Mark Teixeira just signed an eight-year, $180 million contract with the Yankees and Kevin Youkilis just signed a four-year, $41.125 million contract with the Red Sox. For the moment, that takes two of the highest spending teams in baseball off the market for a first baseman. Of course, that can change. And there are other teams out there who would love to have Howard's bat in the middle of their lineup.
Posted by Todd Zolecki @ 10:15 AM  Permalink | 13 comments
13
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:27 AM, 01/19/2009
    Its nice to see Hamels looks happy with the signing, and that it leaves them 1 year of arbitration at the end to potentially sign another deal before he hits FA. I initially thought his arb years were up after this contract, so its a good deal that allows them another year after the contract is done to negotiate another deal if it makes sense.
    — Gary Varsho
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:34 AM, 01/19/2009
    Good deal for all. Hamels and his wife also recently purchased a condo in Liberty Place. It's nice that he's making Philly is hometown.
    — KarenA
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:52 AM, 01/19/2009
    In my view Howard will never be worth 20 million a year. If he worked on his defense and plate disipline he might be. I don't see that happening however. Howard sems to have it in his mind that all he has to do is swing his bat and drive in runs and he's worth over 20 million a year. I have to disagree with that. His defense is terrible and he strikes out far too much. The Phillies should trade Howard after the 2009 season (or before it's over if the are out of contention). They will never be able to sign him long term.
    — James TL
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:54 AM, 01/19/2009
    Gary, by having that extra Arb year after this deal the phils have time to a) work out a deal with him or B0 work out a trade sending him elsewhere as a one yar rental/ half season helper and getting back something in return. Great move
    — jeff gross
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:56 AM, 01/19/2009
    Good for Cole. And it is pretty impressive that the Phillies managed to ink him to a deal he is happy with, without going against their stance of not going more than 3 years for pitchers, while still allowing themselves an extra year after this deal is up to work on his next one based on how healthy he stays. Not for nothing, but Hamels is really starting to seem like a guy who is not about every last dime, just a decent contract, which bodes well. Maybe he wouldn't have a problem with playing on a series of three year deals to stay with the Phillies, as long as the money is fair.
    — RollinsWasRight
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:13 AM, 01/19/2009
    Anyone else hear these rumors that the Phillies grow more and more interested in Ben Sheets as the market for him continues to fall apart? It would be interesting to see if they maybe learned something from the Kyle Lohse and might possibly try to obtain Sheets on a 1-yr, $8-10M deal that would give him a chance to prove he can stay healthy and test the waters again next offseason in the hopes that the economy has improved. Plus, next year's SP market already looks thin, and if Sheets could pitch 200 innings in '09 he would easily be the best available FA starting pitcher next year. I would be all for adding Ben Sheets if you are only on the hook for one guaranteed year. Trouble is, they might have to move Myers to make room financially, which would be risky. Replacing Myers with Sheets would be a significant upgrade, but how good a move would it be when Sheets inevitably misses three weeks at a pivotal point in the season?
    — RollinsWasRight
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:21 AM, 01/19/2009
    RWR - I would take a shot at Sheets for the right price. If he comes back healthy, he's as good as 'almost' anyone in the NL.
    — Gary Varsho
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:40 AM, 01/19/2009
    I wouldn't want Sheets at present. I like our top 4 and feel we need to get a young arm into the rotation. We can't keep Happ, kendrick, Carlos etc in the minors for ever. The only way to bring Sheets aboard is if we trade Myers, but who do we trade him for? If we hadn't signed Ibanez then I could understand going after a LF, but we have no holes in our starting 8, have a young catcher and infielder on their way up, and the above mentioned 3 young arms trying to get into teh rotation. My advise, stay put and win the series again. As for howard, keep signing him to 1 year deals until he's in his last Arb year, then offer him a good deal (like Cole got) and if he's not interested, trade him for pitching, or the missing piece at that point. No need to rush
    — jeff gross
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:50 AM, 01/19/2009
    Jeff Gross is right. The Phillies have some young arms coming up and they need to be tested at the big league. Plugging the best one into the 5th spot is sensible. This way they'll be ready for the soon to happen retirement of Moyer and subsequent departure of Blanton...depending on arbitration and/or trade.
    — pizano13
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:58 AM, 01/19/2009
    The difference between Jeff Gross and myself is that I don't really care what happens to Happ, Carasco, Kendrick (especially) - I care about winning another World Series. So if you offer me Sheets or Happ/Carasco/Kendrick - I take Sheets (if healthy/at the right price).
    — Gary Varsho
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:12 PM, 01/19/2009
    Gotta agree with Varsho on this one, especially because I don't think much of Kendrick, have my doubts about Happ, and am not ready to bank on Carrasco when all the reports are he is not major league ready. If I can get Sheets for a decent price, at the low risk of 1 or 2 guranteed years, I take it. Then, next year when Myers is a FA, I give Carrasco every chance to take that open spot. I hate to bad-mouth Kendrick, he seems like a good kid, and was a real nice story in 2007, but he simply is not a major league pitcher. Also, what's the harm in having depth? I would love a proven rotation of 5 quality proven major league arms, with a couple of kids waiting in the wings to fill in when someone gets hurt.
    — RollinsWasRight
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:38 PM, 01/19/2009
    Gary and RWR: The difference between us is that I se a bit further down the line then just 2009. Sign Sheets, and have him for a year or so (perhaps, he is injury prone) then what do you do in 2010? have to rookies in your lineup as both Moyer and Sheets are gone, Myers is a FA etc? Better have a top 4 and 1 rookie this year and then next year have a solid top four again and add a number 5. Only looking to this year is what the yankees, Dodgers, etc do. Oh yeah, they also spend October at home in front of the TV
    — jeff gross
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:28 PM, 01/19/2009
    jeff: You also place far too much value on the kids. Of the 3 you mentioned, the only one who has a real shot at being a legit ML starter is Carrasco. Happ is not highly regarded, and Kendrick just doesn't have major league stuff. And as Carrasco is at best a long shot to see any significant ML action this year, there goes your whole plan for grooming a young starter for next year. I am not building my 2010 hopes on a rotation of Hamels, Blanton, Moyer, Happ, + who knows? I'd rather take a 1-yr or 2-yr flier on Ben Sheets, and know that this year I have Hamels, Sheets, Myers, Moyer and Blanton, and possibly next year have Hamels, Sheets, Moyer, Blanton and Happ, and look to add Carrasco into the mix beyond.
    — RollinsWasRight


13 comments
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