Los Angeles Dodgers: Cole Hamels not ready to hang up the spikes
By David Hill
It appeared to be the end of the line for Cole Hamels. He had attempted a comeback with the Los Angeles Dodgers, only to be shut down with pain in his arm. His hopes of returning this season have come to an end, as have the Dodgers hopes of making an impact addition to their rotation.
But that does not mean that Hamels has given up on a return. According to Jon Heyman, he is looking to make another attempt to return to the mound in 2022.
Cole Hamels isn’t yet ready to retire and plans to give it another try. The disappointing setback with the Dodgers wasn’t his last attempt.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 30, 2021
Disappointing stint with Los Angeles Dodgers not Cole Hamels last attempt
It was not that long ago that Hamels was a solid middle of the rotation arm. He may not have been the ace caliber pitcher that he once was, but he could still churn out innings and keep a team in the game. His solid production, even at 35 years old, made him an intriguing arm over the past two years.
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But time, and those innings, have seemingly caught up to Hamels. He has made just one start since the end of the 2019 campaign, lasting all of 3.1 innings with the Braves last year. He was not exactly stellar in that outing, allowing three runs on three hits and a walk, striking out two batters before he was forced to leave due to injury.
Hamels will turn 38 years old this offseason. It will also be over two years since he was an effective pitcher, making any possible signing even more of a gamble. With that run of arm trouble, and the pain he felt in just trying to get ready for the final month, it is unlikely that any team would offer more than a minor league deal.
That may be all it takes. Hamels may well be looking for one last chance, attempting to go out on his terms. A team looking to fill out its rotation could be interested, as could a rebuilding franchise hoping to catch lightning in a bottle. However, at this point, it would be foolhardy to count on Hamels to produce at all.
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Cole Hamels does not want his disappointing tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers to be his last moment on the mound. He is hoping to continue his comeback in 2022.