Cole Hamels will officially remain in Philadelphia beyond his 34th birthday.Wednesday morning, he signed a 6-year extension worth $144 million with a vesting option for a 7th year, which would raise the total to over $160 million.
Hamels, 28-years-old, has never left the Phillies organization.
He was was the staple in the Phillies 2nd-ever World Series win in 2008, when he was NLCS and World Series MVP.
Hamels relationship with Philly and its fans has changed a lot since he debuted as a rookie in '06.
Hamels was asked in May '11 if 'booing' shows that a fan cares.
“Yeah, they do,” he replied. “That’s the way I see it. Mike Schmidt told me that when I was younger in the minors. Shoot, he’s probably been the most-booed person in Philly [history], and he’s the best player.”
That appreciation and understanding of Philly fans was a far-cry from Hamels' former claim that Philly fans were, "40% Passionate die-hards, 60% crazy lunatics and fair-weather fans."
[More on Hamels in my 5/29/11 post: "Hamels is King of 4 Aces' Hill"]
Team President David Montgomery made it clear that this was his boy. His priority was Hamels, his devotion to Hamels plain and clear. This one was the catch that he took more personally than any other. And now his big fish has a contract that ranks as the 2nd-biggest for a pitcher in MLB history.
In '08, CC Sabathia, signed the biggest ever, a 7-year deal with the Yankees worth $161 million. Meanwhile, Johan Santana's 6-year, $137.5 million contract with the Mets is a close 3rd to Hamels' deal.
There were mixed reports in recent weeks, as the 7/31 trade-deadline neared, that Hamels wanted to sign with the Phils now and that he was open to other possibilities.
Another strain of information was from the horse's mouth. Hamels said that he would be happy to give the Phils 1st-crack at him in free agency if they traded him now for return value and then sought to re-acquire him after this year. That appeared to some to be Hamels way of giving up on this season, not unlike he appeared to give up on the '09 World Series while still playing in it, when he famously said, "I can't wait for [the season] to end. It's been mentally draining. It's one of those things where, a year in, you just can't wait for a fresh start." It was an unpopular statement in light of the fact that Hamels had just given up 5 runs in 4 1/3 innings in Game 3 of the World Series with a title still within reach.
There was also concern that this notion of leaving now with the intention to return after the season was merely a PR stunt, a way to depart without ruffling feathers, as though it wasn't his intention to turn his back on the city and its fans, only to help the team now and rejoin it soon after. There was a major shadow of doubt as to whether that would actually ever happen, especially when the free market Yankees and Hamels home state Dodgers started throwing big market money at him.
Hamels had said in recent weeks that he enjoys playing in Philadelphia and would love the opportunity to emulate one of his boyhood heroes, Tony Gwynn, by playing his entire career for one team.
He may now get his wish.
"I was fortunate enough for the Phillies to draft me, knowing that they were trying to put together a really good team, and now being a member of what they were able to establish is something I can't thank them for enough.”
Speculation is that the Phils had a chance to sign Hamels for $100 million last fall or $115 million in the spring.
Less than a year later, they paid 75% more for him. They delay was likely due to disagreements within the front-office as to Hamels' worth. A season of turmoil and failed expectations, especially from aging starters Halladay and Lee, coupled with Hamels' ascent as All-Star helped create Wednesday's humongous contract. However, there were other factors also that created the perfect storm for Hamels to claim the biggest Phillies payday of all time: Montgomery's unbending devotion to the organization's prize bloomer and S.F.'s Matt Cain's $141 million, 7-year deal penned earlier this season.
Phils Comeback Shows Life: Tuesday's 7-6 comeback win over Brewers
It was one for the ages, a relic from days of old, a nearly forgotten era of winning baseball in a season of muck and bad luck.
Three-in-a-row do not a playoff-birth make. After all, this is team whose season of inconsistency has left them untrustworthy.
By the time Ty Wigginton came to bat for the second time in the lengthy 8th inning in Philadelphia, the Phils had already scored 6 runs to take a lead they would keep.
It was Cliff Lee's 1st bad game since the All-Star break. He hadn't allowed more than 2 HR in any game this year. Tuesday, he surrendered 4-- including 1 to the opposing pitcher, Zack Greinke. Lee also tied his season-high by allowing 12 hits.
However, Tuesday, 3rd-string catcher Erik Kratz and All-Star catcher Carlos Ruiz got him off-the-hook.
In the top of the 8th, with the Phils trailing 3-1, Lee allowed 2 HR and got nobody out, before Charlie Manuel pulled him from the contest.
In the bottom of the 8th, with the Phils now trailing 6-1, Wigginton led off with a single. Then, with one out, Kratz hit a HR to left center to cut the lead to 6-3 Brewers.
Next, Rollins lined out for the 2nd out of the inning. But then Victorino, Utley and Howard all walked to load the basses for Chooch.
Pitching change. Out came Kameron Lo, and the hometown team gave him a warm welcome.
First, Carlos Ruiz doubled, plating three and knotting the score at 6-6.
Then, Hunter Pence singled to right, scoring Ruiz and giving the Phils their 1st lead of the game: 7-6.
The 2-out rally resembled so many of long ago, season's like 2008, when the spitfire Phils were 'never say die.' This year's team had been more like 'never count on us' than 'never count us out.'
Tuesday was different.
It was the Phillies leading ESPN headlines and highlights for a good reason. The team that finally boasted of Halladay, Howard and Utley on the field had shown some of the magic that made them great only a season ago.
Even Papelbon, who had blown more saves this month than Madson all last year, looked like the guy Amaro and co. had spent $50 million to nail down games like this. He came in and sealed it shut with a no base-runner, 2 S.O. 9th and, just like that, the Phils had won 7-out-of-10 for the 1st time since June 1st and for just the 3rd time all year.
Next up for the Phils: They go for the series sweep vs. Milwaukee, which would be their 1st series sweep of a more than 2-game series this entire season!
Wednesday @ Citizens Bank Park, 1:05 PM ET
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