Did Hamels show his hand?
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Did Hamels show his hand?
Matt Gelb
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Surely, you've noticed it. Cole Hamels has acted and talked like a very confident man. Almost too confident.
Hamels will soon be a rich man, this much is sure. But as players inch toward free agency, sometimes nerves will dominate. What if I'm hurt? What if I flop?
The Phillies leave Florida on Sunday, and it's almost certain Hamels will return to Philadelphia without a new contract. But the two sides have engaged in negotiations, and it's impossible not to think optimistically about a union when you listen to Hamels speak.
Hamels and his agent, John Boggs, have refused to put any deadline on contract talks. But once the season starts, and Hamels is that much closer to free agency, does anything change?
"No," Hamels said. "My only understanding is if you sign anybody before opening day, you have to deal with the luxury tax. So that's the only thing I know of. Anything after goes toward next season. I understand that's where the Phillies are."
That used to be the case, according to a baseball source. But in the new collective bargaining agreement, the timing of a player's new contract has no affect on average annual value (AAV). The yearly monies against the luxury tax cap are based upon the AAV. Hamels is locked into $15 million for 2012. In the past, some deals were affected by that.
Still, it's interesting Hamels would mention an unprompted detail like that. Boggs was involved in a similar situation before. Last season, one of his clients, Adrian Gonzalez, signed a seven-year deal on April 16 with Boston. The parameters were discussed in spring training and it was not signed until then to avoid further tax penalties.
Hamels said he could not categorize the current negotiations between Boggs and Ruben Amaro Jr., but one baseball source said the two sides are closer than they were at the start of spring training.
"I don't know," Hamels said. "It's all in Ruben's hands. If I get in good shape and I play, the Phillies will make offers, and we'll counter until things look the way they need to look."
There was increased chatter about Hamels this week, not only because spring training is nearing an end, but also with the sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers to Magic Johnson and his ownership group for $2.15 billion.
Hamels, of course, is from California. And the Dodgers will be looking to make a spalsh with their new cash this winter. What was Hamels' reaction?
"I didn't know Magic Johnson knew anything about baseball," he said.
Hamels said he talks to Boggs once every two weeks. Typically, they'll discuss his golf game or his family.
"I haven't been thinking about it at all," Hamels said. "It's going to be one of those things that lingers until something happens."
But the way Hamels speaks, it sounds as if he knows more than that.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Or it was nothing.— evolutionary- While it true that Magic probably knows very little about baseball, he made a great move to become one of the group owners to purchase the team. Stan Kasten is the baseball man in the group and they would be crazy not to go after Southern Cal homeboy Cole Hamel. The Phillies better do something while they have the upper hand.— BCRock
- Is it really that big a deal that Hamels is from So. Calif.? I think that Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins are also from CA. Doc is from CO. Cliff Lee is from AK. Chooch is from Panama! Yet, we still love having all of them on our team -- and buy tickets and jerseys and... — raltman
Comment removed.- MOTCHAL, that is super-special that you know postal abbreviations and think that someone who gets one wrong in an otherwise reasoned and civil post deserves to be made fun of. — Nutburgers
- Comment removed.
- Not just the Dodgers but Yankees and Red Sox. If the dodgers are worth 2 billion Yanks 4 billion? — twentysecs
Announce the deal before his first start on the home opener— shawnmac- The Guggenheim group, along with Magic/Kasten way overpaid for the Dodgers. $2.1 (think Dr. Evil) "billion" is a lot to pay for a baseball franchise and NOT rid themselves completely of their former owner. Even thought the Dodgers will be getting hefty money from a new TV deal, its still almost double what the team was actually worth. Someone has to pony up for that money. Guggenheim is a very successful financial group (great mutual funds btw) and will not loose money on the deal. Ticket prices, parking, concessions will all be required to offset this price. With the increase in TV revenue from a new deal, cable/satellite fees to us "common" folk will be increased to pay for this purchase. In the economic world we live it, the trickle down theory has just become the waterfall theory.— drhoffman
- And the new TV contract won't come until 2014, and it's over 20 years (reportedly), so it's not like they're going to get $2-4 billion dropped in their lap this year.
— verve - He looked ready for another full season today.— escapedcamden4monterey
- Other than that one HR he looked very good today. He could be setting up for a career year. He's such a complete pitcher now compared to a few years ago. Love watching the guy. — s
- I became a fan when real good hitters would shake their head at his change up. — escapedcamden4monterey
- He is signed sealed and Delivered. Does anyone really think Cole wants that Pressure of being on a team rebuilding??? We need Bats though! Need Bats!— sjrgm73
- He'll sign soon.
What happened to Ryan Madson hit home. Madson went for a one-year deal and now because of his injury, his career is in jeopardy. His earning power for the next two seasons are certainly shaky.
Hamels will go for security. Why not, it'll probably by a king's ransom anyway. Oh to be young, left handed and posses a dynamite change up.— yahzooman
