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.
You heard it here first. Hamels will be the # 1 pitcher on the team, beating Doc and General Lee in won/loss record; games completed; ERA;
most strikeouts; fewest walks, etc. etc.— pajamas- What if Hamels is tired of the lack of run support and sees a supporting cast getting old, maybe he'll want to check his options? At a minimum, maybe he wants to see how the position players do once the regular season starts. Just saying, this crew isn't getting any younger....— kmon
- Mark if we sign him it won't be for only 1-3 years so if you say he has a good 1st half he will be signed for 5 years plus but you are saying his last 3 could be bad ones? We could say that about any pitcher who is signed for 5 or 6 years. I don't believe in signing any pitcher or any player for that matter long term but sometimes you have to take a chance. If he should miss one season and need TJ surgery at age 30 his career would be far from over. The thing with Cole is most people think he has not come close to his potential and in a few more years we won't have Doc or Lee. When we signed Chase his knees were just fine. It is a chance every team takes when they want to keep a possible star and in Cole's case already one in the eyes of baseball. You may be right but I would put money on him being signed within a month of the start of our season I don't think they want to let him walk and waiting until halfway through the season will cost a bundle more. I think he has proven that he is not going to fall apart and if they are waiting for him to have a bad season they will be waiting a long time. I would worry more about Lee's back in 4 years then worry about an elbow problem that could be fixed or might not ever occur. Now if it was his shoulder :)— pattymac3
- Can the Phillies please pony up and pay this guy. I have a feeling for the next few years, he'll be the dominant lefties in the game.
Way more important than Howard or Utley to the Phillies at this point. Great pitcher. One of the few reasons to feel good about the Phillies after spring training.— fmMD - @Patty, I like what you say but there is a big difference signing a position player like Chase to a long term contract when he has no major injuries, then having them show up in the last couple of years of the existing contract vs. a pitcher long term when you ALREADY know he is damaged goods. Do you really think Amaro would sign Chase to a long term deal for $100 mil right now today if Chase were going to be a FA after this year? No way. Then why would he do it for Cole, unless Cole can prove to him over time he is healthy and able to produce to the standards that warrant the contract? Cole's elbow is 1 year away from being Chase's kneecap? That's my medical opinion based on the knowledge of these injuries and surgeries I have treated in my practice over the past 30 years. I'm not guessing at what's coming down the pike, I know what is. I can't stress that strongly enough. I don't like it and I hate to be the messenger, but it's true. I'm sorry. I really like Cole and ifnot for the elbow I think he could have been an excellent long term pitcher for the Phils. He's now losing the cartilage lining his elbow joint. Once it's gone it's gone. Arthritis has already begun. Arthritis in his elbow is what caused Sandy Koufax to retire at the young age of what 30? Cole's only 2 years from that.— Mark1npt
- Yep he is a Dodger... (sadface)— Mo Biggsley
- He has a squeaky high voice, he wins 14 games a year and he has been a bit wishy washy. Trade him for some big talent, pull up the pitchers from AAA. Party time.— Barneyboy
- Since 2008 Hamels hasn't thrown less then 193 innings, his injury troubles are behind him (being dumb breaking his hand in a bar fight and his back troubles. Yes he had loose bodies removed from his elbow but that isn't a big deal). Mark1npd, sorry buddy but you have no clue what you are talking about, Cole Hamels is as healthy as he's ever been and it shows. If he wasn't the Phillies wouldn't be ok with giving him a 5 yr contract (it's been reported by several outlets that they are willing to go 5yr 100m but Hamels wants 6yrs). Hamels is ok and WILL at least come in the top 3 in Cy Young voting this year if not win it. So take you're non sense somewhere else, unless you have seen Hamels medical documents then you can't sit here and say "I know what is coming" haha, NO YOU DON'T.— Epolice183
- get him before the new Dodgers ownership steal him— dwilly
- Dotyou think it's a good thing to put in the papers that "did Hamels show his hand?" I want Hamels desperately. To that interest I don't think I'd mention anything about the behind the scenes negotiations. That's like the journalist inserting himself getting into the negotiations when shouldn't we just let them work it out themselves? Having been a bona fide card carrying member of the media for a major daily, I can understand the nose for news angle, but as a die hard Phillies fan, maybe we ought to un-insert ourselves from the negotiations.— RichieAllen64
- PS- Otherwise, I really enjoy your reporting :)— RichieAllen64
- @EPolice...I hope you stick around. I want to hear you apologize when what I stated comes true, because unlike you , I do know what's gonna happen. Did you read my entire post? What don't you get?— Mark1npt
- @mark1npt, can you give all of us the Mega Millions' winning numbers for the next drawing, please? Thanks.— beegal99
- I'd listen to Mark. His medical knowledge beats speculation, star gazing, and examining the entrails of a goat anytime.— orange rhino
- What Cole is saying is nice but it doesn't mean anything yet. He could have a new contract awaiting his signature on Monday or he could be gone come October. We'll all find out sooner or later. I say the Phils and Cole can get this done. He saw what happened with Lee and how he came back.— PhillySubsMac
