Atlanta Braves: how southpaw Cole Hamels fooled us all
Cole Hamels signed a lucrative 1-year, $18M deal with the Atlanta Braves in the offseason and now will likely begin the season on the injured list.
Did the Atlanta Braves look over Cole Hamels medicals before they signed him this offseason? I mean, did he take a physical before he signed or did the Braves just back the Brinks truck up to his porch upon verbal agreement?
Two months after Hamels signed his contract word has come out he won’t be reporting to spring training on time and not sure won’t be in the rotation come Opening Day.
When Cole Hamels signed with the Braves in early December I was shocked by the financial terms. $18 million for a 36-year-old pitcher with over twenty-six hundred innings on his arm. Hamels is not putting up Justin Verlander numbers or even Charlie Morton numbers.
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Hamels is durable, he is going to make thirty plus starts this year. He has plenty of postseason experience. He is a crafty lefty. I am not downplaying his ability. I just don’t think he is worth $18 million this year, and now his fragile left arm is proof of that.
After the Braves locked up Hamels with his expensive taste, word came out the Phillies had offered him half as much to return to the city he spent ten seasons in. Hamels won a World Series in Philadelphia, one in which he was the Most Valuable Player. The Phillies made what I consider a respectable offer of $9 million for the fan-favorite.
By no means is Cole Hamels expected to take a hometown discount, but to refute it and call it a lowball offer?
Adam Wainwright, who also has fourteen years under his belt did take a hometown discount to return to St. Louis at $5 million this year. Hamels and Wainwright have such similar numbers it’s eerie.
163 career wins and 3.42 ERA for Hamels, 162 wins and 3.39 ERA for Wainwright. Wainwright has a lower postseason ERA by a run, Hamels has quite a few more strikeouts. Is Hamels worth $13 million more than Wainwright this year?
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves for 2020. light. More
The Atlanta Braves overpaid for Hamels and now he is going to begin the season on the shelf with shoulder irritation, an injury which could linger. It’s my estimation the Braves are kicking themselves for a couple of reasons. Signing Cole Hamels at such a lofty figure and counting on Felix Hernandez to be the contingency plan while he is out.