Hamels’ Next Deal: Think Lee, Not Weaver
The Phillies and Cole Hamels today agreed to a one-year, $15 million contract, which allowed them to avoid salary arbitration.
Next up? The Phillies and Hamels’ agent John Boggs will talk about a multiyear extension.
“We can negotiate with Cole from today through the end of November, and then beyond that to get a multiyear deal done,” Ruben Amaro Jr. said. ”Just because we have a one-year deal in place doesn’t mean we can’t do something long term. As far as Cole beyond 2012, that’s something that’s still very much open for discussion.”
Hamels is line for a major payday, but how large remains to be seen.
But think Cliff Lee more than Jered Weaver.
Weaver signed a five-year, $85 million contract extension last summer with the Angels, but Weaver bypassed free agency partly because he wanted to stay in Southern California and play for his hometown team. Weaver and Hamels have remarkably similar career statistics, so it is easy to think Hamels might be paid in that range: Hamels is 77-54 with a 3.39 ERA in 181 career appearances. He has a 1.141 WHIP and averages 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Weaver is 82-47 with a 3.31 ERA in 171 career appearances. He has a 1.165 WHIP and averages 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings.
But Boggs said this afternoon the Weaver deal is a “non-starter” in negotiations, which I assume the Phillies already know.
“It would be natural to look at that as a comparison,” he said. “Jered signed for his own personal reasons – and I applaud him for that – but it doesn’t necessarily mean we’re going to follow the same standard. Everybody is different. For Jered to sign there it doesn’t mean that’s the template we’re going to follow.”
Lee signed a five-year, $120 million contract with the Phillies in Dec. 2010. That certainly seems to be a better measuring stick for Hamels, right?
“Absolutely,” Boggs said. “If you’re this close to free agency, you start to make comparables of what you have the potential of making as a free agent.”
Lee signed his deal at 32. Hamels is 28. It stands to reason Hamels will be looking for a contract worth $20 million or more per season.
Reason to be nervous if you’re a Phillies fan? Not yet. There seems to be genuine interest on both sides to reach an agreement. Finalizing Hamels’ 2012 contract could have been the first step.
“The goal was to get that out of the way,” Boggs said. “I’m sure down the road we’ll have a conversation about moving forward. We plan on keeping the discussions open. It’s a process.”
Boggs said he hasn’t talked to Hamels about setting any potential deadline regarding negotiations, which some players have done in the past.
“At the end of the day we really don’t have any concrete game plan as far as how long we are going to plan on discussing this,” Boggs said. “That will be decided at some point shortly, or as we get into the process. But there’s definitely a desire to stay. At the end of the day it really depends on the value we place on Cole, and hopefully it coincides with the value the Phillies place on Cole. That’s the reason you have a negotiation. From a basic desire, yes, he’d be more than happy to stay there. He knows the Phillies. He’s homegrown. That’s what we’ll attempt to do, but sometimes things don’t work out if we can’t agree on the value.”
Hamels, Valdez Agree to Deals, Avoid Arbitration
The Phillies and Cole Hamels avoided salary arbitration today when they agreed to a one-year, $15 million contract, according to a source.
The Phillies also reached an agreement on a $930,000 contract with infielder Wilson Valdez, who was eligible for salary arbitration.
Hunter Pence remains the only Phillies player still eligible for salary arbitration, although an agreement can be reached up until the moment the team and player are supposed to meet with arbiters.
UPDATE. Incentives for Hamels and Valdez:
Hamels: $100,000 for MVP ($75,000 second, $50,000 third), $250,000 Cy Young ($150,000 second, $100,000 third), $100,000 World Series MVP, $50,000 League Championship Series MVP, $50,000 Gold Glove, $50,000 Silver Slugger, $50,000 All-Star.
Valdez: $25,000 Gold Glove, $25,000 Silver Slugger, $25,000 All-Star.
Phillies, Kendrick Avoid Arbitration
The Phillies and Kyle Kendrick have agreed to a one-year, $3.585 million contract.
Kendrick had been eligible for salary arbitration.
Kendrick, 27, went 8-6 with a 3.22 ERA in 34 games (15 starts) last season. He proved to be a valuable piece to the pitching staff, moving back and forth from the bullpen to the rotation because of injuries to Roy Oswalt and Joe Blanton. in ERA and games.
The Phillies have three remaining arbitration-eligible players: Cole Hamels, Hunter Pence and Wilson Valdez.
UPDATED. Here are the bonuses in Kendrick’s deal: $25,000 for All-Star, $25,000 for LCS MVP, $50,000 for World Series MVP, $50,000 for Cy Young or Rolaids Relief Man (or $25,000 for second or $15,000 for third).
Coming Soon …
Coming soon …
Jim Salisbury and I are excited about our book The Rotation: A Season with the Phillies and One of the Greatest Pitching Staffs Ever Assembled , which is scheduled for release in late February/early March. It should be out just in time for that flight to Clearwater for spring training (or to get you thinking about baseball again after spending the last few months in the cold). We follow the 2010 season through The Rotation, which historically was one of the greatest in baseball history. Salisbury and I got lots of great inside information that hasn’t been read before and much more, so I’m sure you will enjoy it.
More information to come …
Reds Get Madson
Ryan Madson wants to be a closer, so while the Phillies would have loved to have had him in their 2012 bullpen as a setup man, he is headed to Cincinnati on a one-year, $8.5 million contract.
I never would have predicted that in November.
Back in November it appeared the Phillies and Madson were close to a four-year, $44 million extension. But the negotiations hit a snag (one side said they had a verbal agreement, the other side said they didn’t) and the Phillies decided to spend $6 million more to sign Jonathan Papelbon. Meanwhile, the closing opportunities for Madson dried up and instead of getting the monster pay day he hoped, he has to pitch in Cincinnati for one season before hitting the market again. That’s not exactly how Scott Boras planned it, but that’s the situation.
It will be a strange spring training without Madson and possibly Brad Lidge in the clubhouse. They were the final two pieces of the 2008 World Series bullpen. But there is still a chance Lidge is back. He remains unsigned, and the longer he is out there I think the chances improve the Phillies could sign him to a Minor League deal. Read Paul Hagen‘s story on Lidge here.
Hagen recently joined MLB.com after leaving the Daily News. He is an awesome addition to our staff. Hagen will be writing plenty of national stories, but he’ll get a chance to write his share of Phillies stories, too. That’s great for everybody. I actually meant to post this back in December, but … welcome aboard, Paul. Thrilled to have you on the team.
Phillies Release Bowker
The Phillies have released outfielder John Bowker, who will pursue a playing opportunity in Japan.
The Phillies picked up Bowker in an Aug. 29 trade with the Pirates, hoping he could be a productive left-handed bat off the bench. You know, maybe run into a fastball and hit a home run or two. But Matt Stairs he wasn’t. Bowker went 0-for-13, which gives him a dubious place in Phillies history — assuming he doesn’t make his way back to the Phillies in the future.
There is only one other position player that finished his Phillies career with more than 13 hitless at-bats. Outfielder Fred Tauby went 0-for-20 for the 1937 Phillies. He never played in the big leagues again.
There are nine pitchers that finished their Phillies careers with more than 13 hitless at-bats. Leading the list is Jim Hearn, who went 0-for-33 with the Phillies from 1957-59. Also in the top three are Charley Stanceu, who went 0-for-19 in 1946; and Mac Scarce, who went 0-for-17 from 1972-74.
And now you know …
Willis, Montanez Deals
I know some of you folks like looking at these, so here’s the latest round of contract details:
Dontrelle Willis. $850,000. Plus: $25,000 for five games starts; $25,000 for 10 games started; $50,000 for 15 games started; $50,000 for 20 games started; $100,000 for 25 games started; $100,000 for 30 games staretd; $100,000 for 125 innings pitched; $100,000 for 150 innings pitched; $100,000 for 175 innings pitched; $25,000 for 15 relief appearances; $25,000 for 25 relief appearances; $50,000 for 35 relief appearances; $50,000 for 45 relief appearances; $75,000 for 55 relief appearances; $75,000 for 65 relief appearances; $25,000 for 30 plate appearances as a pinch hitter. Plus: $50,000 for All Star; $100,000 for Cy Young or Rolaids ($75,000-2nd; $50,000-3rd); $25,000 for Gold Glove; $25,000 for Silver Slugger; $100,000 for World SeriesMVP; $50,000 for League Championship Series MVP.
Luis Montanez. Minor League contract for $18,000/month. Agreement for Major League contract for $135,000. $507,000 in Majors. If not on Major League roster on June 1, player will be released if requested. Major League invitation to Spring Training.
Phillies Get Good News on Howard
Ruben Amaro Jr. yesterday received encouraging news on some players that had offseason surgeries, most notably, Ryan Howard.
Howard had surgery in October to repair a ruptured left Achilles. Foot and ankle specialist Mark Myerson examined Howard yesterday and cleared him to begin some strength and power exercises. Howard also will start jogging underwater, and is likely to begin baseball activities in six weeks. (He will start by fielding ground balls before progressing to hitting.)
That timetable places Howard’s baseball activities around the middle of February, which is the beginning of Spring Training.
Is there any chance Howard could be ready by Opening Day?
“I can’t even speculate,” Amaro told MLB.com. “All I know is that it’s nice to know that at some point in Spring Training that he’ll start doing some light baseball activities. I think it is good news.”
Phillies physician Michael Ciccotti examined right-hander Jose Contreras yesterday, and cleared him to begin a throwing program today. Contreras had surgery late last year to repair his right elbow.
“I don’t have any timetable on him,” Amaro said. “We’ll probably know more within the next month.”
But even with some uncertainty surrounding Contreras, Amaro said he is not looking to find another bullpen arm.
“If there’s somebody that falls in our lap, yeah,” Amaro said. “But it’s a good enough report (for Contreras) that we think he’s going to be ready. If not at Opening Day then hopefully close to it.”
Placido Polanco (sports hernia surgery) told Amaro recently he feels great and believes he will be ready to go 100 percent by Spring Training. Hunter Pence (sports hernia surgery) also is expected to be ready for Spring Training. Cole Hamels (surgery to remove loose bodies in left elbow) is throwing and feels fine.
“A very, very positive update as far as our walking wounded are concerned,” Amaro said.
Rollins Is A Happy Man
I talked on the phone a few minutes ago with Jimmy Rollins. Here is what he said about his three-year, $33 million contract with the Phillies, a lengthy negotiation process and more:
QUESTION: Are you happy this is finally over?
ROLLINS: Yes, I’m glad that it’s over. It’s good that it’s over for both parties. It’s an issue that’s been going on. Negotiations take time and both parties usually get a good idea where a finish line can be. It usually takes time to get there, but we got there.
QUESTION: Are you happy with the deal? You had asked for five years, and I also had heard you were unhappy with the pace of the negotiations.
ROLLINS: I never said that or even hinted toward that in any way. No, it’s not true. I wasn’t upset at the pace. I was glad it took a while because both sides were showing that they care. This is a business. There is a sports side of it and a business side of it, and the business side of it is always the most difficult part. Making sure that the numbers fit and the years fit and that both parties can be happy going forward is how business is. This is where we both sit and both parties feel comfortable going forward.
QUESTION: Do you feel you met the Phillies half way? You wanted five. They wanted three. But it sounds like the vesting option for the fourth year is easily attainable.
ROLLINS: That’s very accurate. The tough part is you’ve got to stick to your guns and they’ve got to stick to their guns. You negotiate. If I hadn’t started so high then we probably would have been looking at a two-year deal with a vesting option for three. People that understand business, they get it.
QUESTION: As long as you’re healthy you feel you will get that option?
ROLLINS: Exactly.
Rollins, Phillies Agree to Three-Year Deal
Two sources confirmed an ESPN.com report today that Jimmy Rollins agreed to a three-year, $33 million contract with a vesting option for a fourth season. One source said the $11 million option is easily attainable, which likely means it does not require many plate appearances or games played to kick in.
“I see you all know by now,” Rollins said on his Twitter account @JimmyRollins11. “Gotta deal with me for 3 (4) more years!”
Rollins entered the offseason proclaiming he wanted a five-year contract or a four-year deal with a player option for a fifth season. But the market never materialized as the Brewers signed Alex Gonzalez and the Cardinals signed Rafael Furcal. Other teams that needed a shortstop like the San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves simply had no plans to offer Rollins the kind of money the Phillies offered.
In the end, the Phillies made the most sense: they offered Rollins the most money and years, and they provided him the best chance to win a World Series.
Todd Zolecki
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