Results tagged ‘ Cole Hamels ’
Doc Gets Opening Day, Hamels Gets Home Opener
We asked nicely today, so Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee revealed his rotation to open the 2012 season:
- April 5 in Pittsburgh: Roy Halladay
- April 7 in Pittsburgh: Cliff Lee
- April 8 in Pittsburgh: Vance Worley
- April 9 vs. Miami: Cole Hamels
Dubee explained.
“Cole has had more experience,” said Dubee, asked why Hamels gets the home opener. “Hell, he’s pitched in the World Series. The big flag is out there. Not that Vance can’t handle it, but it’s a little bit of a hectic day. Any of our guys deserve to pitch the home opener or the opener of the season. This way it lines up where Cole gets it. It splits our lefties. It doesn’t put Vance in that situation. Cole is more accustomed to pitching with a lot of hoopla around.”
It is unclear when Joe Blanton would pitch, but because of two off days between the season opener April 5 and the fifth game of the season April 11, it is likely Halladay pitches April 11.
“I don’t think we’re going to let Doc sit around for seven or eight days,” Dubee said. “That’s too much.”
*
Jim Salisbury and I co-authored the book The Rotation, which is now available. Check it out here!
Here are our upcoming book signings:
- April 2: Barnes & Noble in Plymouth Meeting, PA, 7 p.m.
- April 3: Chester County Book Company in West Chester, PA, 7 p.m.
- April 26: Barnes & Noble in Marlton, NJ, 7 p.m.
Nats’ Top 3 over Doc, Cliff and Cole? Whatever
The Nationals are trying their best to build a rivalry with the Phillies in the National League East.
It started with their Take Back the Park campaign, designed to make tickets less accessible to Phillies fans for the Phillies-Nationals series May 4-6 at Nationals Park. But then Nationals manager Davey Johnson told The Washington Post the other day he would take Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Jordan Zimmermann and the rest of his rotation over Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels and the rest of the Phillies’ rotation, in part because of their youth and potential.
“Their top three versus our top three, stuff-wise, we match up as good,” Johnson told the Post.
“I guess that’s his opinion,” Rich Dubee said.
Asked what he thought about Johnson’s comments, Lee said, “He should (take them) because that’s his only option. It’s what he’s got to do.”
In other words, whatever.
Lee said he wouldn’t compare Halladay, Hamels and himself to any other pitchers on any team in baseball.
“I’m not trying to compare myself to anybody,” Lee said. “There’s nothing good that’s going to come out of that. I know we’re proven and we’ve shown what we can do, and if we’re healthy we stack up pretty good against anyone. I’m not going to sit here and try to create something out of nothing because to me really that’s nothing.”
Asked about the Take Back the Park campaign, Lee said, “That’s another nothing thing for me. Whatever. They should try to get more fans to come out and support them. They should expect a lot out of their team. It’s normal stuff. He should think his pitchers are better than anyone. He should think all his position players are better than anyone else. He should think he’s got the best bullpen. If he doesn’t, what’s he thinking?”
*
Jim Salisbury and I co-authored the book The Rotation, which is now available. Check it out here!
Here are our upcoming book signings:
- March 19: Bright House Field in Clearwater, FL, TBA
- April 2: Barnes & Noble in Plymouth Meeting, PA, 7 p.m.
- April 3: Chester County Book Company in West Chester, PA, 7 p.m.
- April 26: Barnes & Noble in Marlton, NJ, 7 p.m.
Lee Relates to Hamels
Cliff Lee is one of the few people in the world who can truly relate to Cole Hamels‘ upcoming free agency.
He spoke about that today, as Hamels’ agent is in town talking to the Phillies about an extension. The sides are not close and an agreement is not expected before the end of spring training, if one happens at all. These talks will be difficult. Why? Because Hamels’ agent would not be doing his job if he were not trying to get Hamels a contract worth more than $100 million, and the Phillies already have tons of money committed over the next several seasons. Looking at things from the outside and not knowing how much money the Phillies have to spend, it would seem difficult to not only meet the demands of Hamels, but Shane Victorino, who becomes a free agent following this season, and Hunter Pence, who becomes a free agent following 2013.
Can they keep all of them? It will be very, very difficult.
The Phillies already have $109.85 million committed to eight players next season: Lee ($25 million), Roy Halladay ($20 million), Ryan Howard ($20 million), Chase Utley ($15 million), Jonathan Papelbon ($13 million), Jimmy Rollins ($11 million), Kyle Kendrick ($4.5 million) and Laynce Nix ($1.35 million). And that’s not counting club options for Carlos Ruiz, etc. They have $94 million committed to Lee, Halladay, Howard, Papelbon and Rollins in 2014; and $74 million committed to Lee, Howard, Papelbon and Rollins in 2015.
Let’s say Hamels wants $20 million per season from the Phillies. Let’s say Victorino wants $12 million. Let’s say Pence wants $15 million. That’s $47 million for the three (and that’s probably a low figure, if you think about what they could get if they hit the open market). That puts the Phillies’ 2014 payroll at $141 million for just seven players. So what? Well, none of those players are a catcher, second baseman or third baseman. There are bullpen jobs, bench jobs and possibly a starting pitcher or two to find, too. I’m not saying the Phillies will not resign Hamels, but it will not be easy. And it might mean they have to lose talented players elsewhere, something Victorino acknowledged recently.
Stay tuned …
*
Jim Salisbury and I co-authored the book The Rotation, which is now available. Check it out here!
Yankees Fans Heart Hamels
Cole Hamels noticed something unusual while warming up in the Phillies bullpen today.
Friendly Yankees fans.
“Yankees fans were real nice for some odd reason,” he said after pitching two innings in an 8-5 loss to the Yankees at Bright House Field. “I don’t know why.”
Probably because they know Hamels will be a free agent after the season, unless the Phillies sign him to a contract extension. The always deep-pocketed Yankees could take a run at one of the best left-handers in baseball.
*
Jim Salisbury and I co-authored the book The Rotation, which is now available. Check it out here!
Now Available: The Rotation
Just a heads up: The Rotation is now available in Delaware Valley bookstores! So if you’re out and about and need a good book before heading to Clearwater (or you just need a book to get your ready for the baseball season), check it out. It’s also available on Amazon.com!
Hamels: No Deadline, Wants to Stay
Cole Hamels just finished up his news conference this afternoon at Bright House Field.
Here are a few highlights:
Q: Are you setting a deadline to reach an extension?
A: No. No, I don’t have any deadline. I think the only deadline that is set is by Major Leauge Baseball with (exclusive negotiating rights) five days after the World Series.
Q: So nothing needs to be settled by Opening Day or anything?
A: No, no, no. I’m just going out and getting ready for this year. that’s my main focus. It’s to get as strong as possible throughout spring training and go into the season and try to help this team win. That’s everything I’ve always been able to focus on, especially since we haven’t been back to the World Series in a couple of years, that’s kind of the main focus that I’m going to put every ounce of energy going toward.
Q: In your heart, do you want to be a Phillie for a long time?
A: I was very fortunate enough to be drafted to an organization that is trying to win and obviously has won. Every day, every year we seem to get some top players. So that kind of shows the value and the direction the team wants to go. I’ve just been very fortunate to be a part of it. And it’s also something where I don’t know any better, I live in Philadelphia. I’ve been here for I guess 10 years now, so that’s been something that’s been kind of nice, kind of something I’ve been focused on. It’s a great organization to play for and I’d love to be a part of it.
Latest Contract Info
People seem to like these, so I’m passing along the latest contract details for the Phillies:
Dave Bush. Minor League contract for $18,000/month. Agreement for Major League contract for $150,000. $800,000 in Majors. Plus: $10,000 for 10 relief appearances; $10,000 for 15 relief appearances; $10,000 for 20 relief appearances; $10,000 for 25 relief appearances; $10,000 for 30 relief appearances; $25,000 for 35 relief appearances; $25,000 for 40 relief appearances; $25,000 for 45 relief appearances; $25,000 for 50 relief appearances; $25,000 for 55 relief appearances; $25,000 for 60 relief appearances; $10,000 for 2 games started; $5,000 for 5 game started; $25,000 for 10 games started; $50,000 for 15 games started; $100,000 for 20 games started; $100,000 for 25 games started; $100,000 for 30 games started. Plus: $25,000 for All Star; $50,000 for World Series MVP; $25,000 for League Championship Series MVP; $50,000 for Rolaids or Cy Young ($25,000-2nd; $15,000-3rd). If not on Major League roster on June 1, player may be traded for 25-man roster spot on another team. If not on Major League roster, player may sign with Korea or Taiwan for $50,000; with Japan for $50,000 if between Dec. 1-Feb. 15; $100,000 if between Feb. 16-March 31; $150,000 after Sept. 1 or will be placed on roster within 72 hours. Major League invitation to Spring Training.
Luis Cruz. Minor League contract for $13,500/month. Agreement for Major League contract for $100,000. $485,000 in Majors. If not on Major League roster on July 15, player will be released if requested. If not on Major League roster, player may sign with Asian team for $50,000 if prior to April 1; $100,000 if after March 31. Major League invitation to Spring Training.
Cole Hamels. $15,000,000. Plus: $100,000 for MVP ($75,000-2nd; $50,000-3rd); $250,000 for Cy Young ($150,000-2nd; $100,000-3rd); $100,000 for World Series MVP; $50,000 for League Championship Series MVP; $50,000 for Gold Glove; $50,000 for Silver Slugger; $50,000 for All Star.
Kyle Kendrick. $3,585,000. Plus: $25,000 for All Star; $50,000 for World Series MVP; $25,000 for League Championship Series MVP; $50,000 for Cy Young or Rolaids ($25,000-2nd; $15,000-3rd).
Laynce Nix. $1,150,000 in 2012; $1,350,000 in 2013. Plus: $50,000 for 400 plate appearances; $50,000 for 450 plate appearances; $50,000 for 500 plate appearances. Plus: $50,000 for All Star ($25,000 selection); $100,000 for MVP; $100,000 for World Series MVP; $50,000 for League Championship Series MVP; $50,000 for Gold Glove.
Pete Orr. $120,000. $600,000 in Majors.
Hunter Pence. $10,400,000. Plus: $100,000 for MVP; $100,000 for World Series MVP; $50,000 for League Championship Series MVP; $50,000 for All Star; $50,000 for Silver Slugger; $50,000 for Gold Glove.
Joel Pineiro. Minor League contract for $20,000/month. Agreement for Major League contract for $1,500,000. Plus: $25,000 for 25 relief appearances $25,000 for 30 relief appearances; $25,000 for 35 relief appearances $25,000 for 40 relief appearances; $25,000 for 45 relief appearances; $25,000 for 50 relief appearances; $50,000 for 55 relief appearances; $50,000 for 60 relief appearances; $250,000 for 10 games started; $250,000 for 15 games started; $350,000 for 20 games started; $350,000 for 25 games started; $500,000 for 28 games started; $500,000 for 30 games started. Plus: $25,000 for All Star; $50,000 for World Series MVP; $25,000 for League Championship Series MVP; $50,000 for Rolaids or Cy Young ($25,000-2nd; $15,000-3rd). Major League invitation to Spring Training.
David Purcey. Minor League contract for $18,000/month. Agreement for Major League contract for $135,000. $507,500 in Majors. If not on 25-man roster on June 12, player will be released if requested or will be added to roster within 72 hours. If not on Major League roster, player may sign with Korea/Taiwan for $25,000 or with Japan for $50,000 if between Dec. 1-Feb. 15; $75,000 if between Feb. 16-March 31; $100,000 if after March 31 or will be added to roster wthin 72 hours. Major League invitation to Spring Training.
Joe Savery. $78,250. $480,000 in Majors.
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).
Todd Zolecki
Recent Comments