Tagged: Cole Hamels
Phillies, Hamels Extension Talks Progressing
According to CSNPhilly’s Jim Salisbury, contract negotiations between the Phillies and Starting Pitcher Cole Hamels are heating up. Hamels’ agent John Boggs will be in Clearwater all week to negotiate. Boggs said that a deal by the end of the week is not likely, though was optimistic for a deal in the future.
Boggs reiterated that there would be no deadline for extension talks. Cole Hamels, 28, will be a free agent at season’s end, highlighting a starting pitching class that includes San Francisco’s Matt Cain and Milwaukee’s Zack Greinke.
Phillies Avoid Arbitration with Hamels, Valdez
Cole Hamels has signed a one year, $15 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. The deal is the largest salary given to an arbitration eligible pitcher ever, though Hamels’ record is only expected to last a short period with Tim Lincecum’s upcoming salary hearing expected to exceed $20 million. Hamels was projected to earn $14 million through arbitration. The door appears to still be open on an extension, but don’t expect something similar to Jered Weaver’s 5 Year/$85 million deal as much as CC Sabathia’s 7 Year/$161 million deal. Cole Hamels is a young, proven, left-handed ace primed to earn a big payday, and everyone knows it, especially Hamels himself. Retaining him will not be an easy task. The Phillies will attempt to rise to the challenge when extension discussions resume during Spring Training.
The Phillies also signed Infielder Wilson Valdez to a one year/$930,000 deal. He was projected to earn $950K, so the Phillies may have gotten a slight discount. This was Valdez’s first go around at arbitration.
The signing of Kyle Kendrick, Valdez and Hamels leaves Right Fielder Hunter Pence as the only Phillie left set to go through the arbitration process. He is projected to earn $11 million, though the Phillies will hopefully sign him before it gets to the mud-slinging phase.
Phillies Sign Joel Pineiro, Avoid Arbitration with Kendrick
The 2011-12 offseason has been all about improving the Phillies’ depth, and even in late January, Ruben Amaro continues to do just that.
The Phillies have signed Starting Pitcher Joel Pineiro to a minor-league deal, one that includes and invite to Spring Training. The Phillies don’t have much behind their major league rotation in the minors, so being able to stash a major league proven vet at AAA is always a great thing to be able to do.
After having a solid 2009 with the Cardinals, Pineiro signed a 2 Year/$16 Million deal with the Anaheim Angels, and the injury bug hampered him throughout the contract. Pineiro slogged through 145 innings in 2011, finishing with a 7-7 record and a 5.13 ERA. He allowed an average of 11.2 hits per 9 innings, struck out 62 batters, and finished with a WHIP north of 1.5. Pineiro should, barring any other similar signings, slot in as the #7 starter on the Phillies depth chart, providing the Phillies with some breathing room in case of any injury.
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The Phillies now only have to deal with 3 arbitration cases after signing Starter Kyle Kendrick to a 1 Year/$3.585 million deal. Kendrick had perhaps the best year of his career in 2011, logging 114 innings, posting a record of 8-6, and had an ERA of 3.22. Kendrick appeared in 34 games in 2011, 15 of them being starts.
With Kendrick out the way, the Phillies can focus on their three remaining cases: Infielder Wilson Valdez, who is projected to earn $950,000, Outfielder Hunter Pence, who is projected to earn $11 million, and Starter Cole Hamels, who is projected to earn $14 million.
Red Sox Acquire Andrew Bailey
Ryan Madson may soon have to file for unemployment.
The Boston Red Sox, one of the final suitors in the running for Free Agent Closer Ryan Madson, have filled their 9th inning need. The Red Sox have sent Right Fielder Josh Reddick and two prospects- 20-year-old Third Baseman Miles Head and 19-year-old Right Handed Pitcher Raul Alcantara to Oakland. In return, the Red Sox received All-Star Closer Andrew Bailey and Outfielder Ryan Sweeney.
The Athletics are in full sale mode as they prepare for their probable move to San Jose. The Athletics reportedly want to field a young team when they open their new stadium in a few years and anybody who doesn’t fit in their mold for that team needs to go. The A’s already traded Starter Trevor Cahill and Reliever Craig Breslow to the Diamondbacks for prospects earlier this month. They also traded Ace Gio Gonzalez to Washington.
What does this mean for Ryan Madson?
The Cincinnati Reds reportedly prefer Closer Francisco Cordero, who has been their 9th inning guy since 2008. That leaves no job for the Mad Dog right? Wrong.
Who else but the Anaheim Angels? Despite spending over $350 million on Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson, the Angels still want to add-on to their bullpen, which was one of the league’s worst in 2011. Further complicating matters, however, is the fact that the Angels have stated that they intend on complementing current closer Jordan Walden, not replacing him. Ryan Madson would definitely want the closer job, and he would have to take a pay cut to go there, only to be a set-up man.
The Tampa Bay Rays are looking for a closer, but would only sign Madson if he took a huge pay-cut which, come Late January or Early February, he may have to do unless he wants to sit out 2012. But if you’re going to take a huge pay-cut to go somewhere on a probable one-year deal, why not do it with the Phillies? The Phillies are expected to have somewhere between $3 and $8 million of wiggle-room, depending on how arbitration goes with Hunter Pence and Cole Hamels.
Madson could certainly fit in that scenario, but he would have to take a pay-cut from 2011 to do it. But desperate times call for desperate measures. If the Angels don’t jump on Madson, don’t be surprised to see Boras crawl back to the Phillies in Late January.
Wouldn’t that be a sight to see?
Phillies Sign Rollins to Three Year Deal
It is looking likely that Jimmy Rollins will retire with a Phillies cap on.
The Phillies have agreed to a 3-Year Contract with their longtime shortstop. The deal is worth $33 million, with an annual pay of $11 million. Jimmy did get his fourth-year vesting option, which is supposedly easy to reach and is worth an additional $11 million. The total value of the deal is 4-years, $44 million.
Rollins revealed that he did have a 4-year deal from Milwaukee at a point. He wouldn’t reveal how much money the Brewers put on the table, but did say this: “If it was purely about guaranteed money and guaranteed years, I’d be wearing blue and gold in Milwaukee.”
The last time Rollins made one of his famed predictions, it was 2009. That was the last time the Phillies reached the World Series. Coincidence? I think not. So it’s a pretty good thing that he made another today.
“I have a chance to continue my legacy in Philadelphia and win at least two more championships before the deal expires.”
Good to have our swami back.
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With the signing of Rollins, the Phillies appear to be ready to go for 2012. All holes have been plugged, all players signed. After the Winter holidays end and the calendar flips to January 2012, it would be wise for the Phillies to begin or heat up talks with Cole Hamels (and possibly Hunter Pence afterwards) about a contract extension. January is the time of year the Phillies tend to handle all of their big extensions. Hamels, 27, is quickly developing into one of the top southpaws in the game. It would be wise to lock him up now, before he hits the free agent market. As Albert Pujols and Cliff Lee showed us, anything can happen once everybody’s involved.
Madson Declines Arbitration; Top Prospect James Survives Rule 5; Pujols to LA
Ryan Madson’s Phillies career is no more. The reliever declined the Phillies’ offer of arbitration last night.
Had Ryan Madson accepted, the Phillies would have had arguably one of the best bullpens in the game, with a 7-8-9 inning combo of Antonio Bastardo, Madson, and Jonathan Papelbon. Madson would have likely made at least $7.5 million in arbitration, making him the richest set up man in the game. Of course, that is now $7-9 million that will be spent on other needs, including a contract to Jimmy Rollins and possibly extensions to Cole Hamels and Hunter Pence.
The Red Sox seem like the only team interested in the Scott Boras client. It seems like it’s Boston or bust for Madson. If Boston’s smart, they’ll use their position as his only viable suitor to their advantage. He could be looking at far less dollars than he and Scott Boras would have liked.
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Four Phillies prospects were taken in the 2011 Rule 5 Draft. Shockingly, Outfielder Jiwan James, the Phillies 9th best prospect according to Baseball America, was not one of them.
Only one of the Phillies’ prospects was taken in the Major League portion of the draft. That would be Reliever Lendy Castillo, who will be in the bullpen of the Chicago Cubs in 2012. Originally an infielder, Castillo’s first season as a pitcher was in 2010. In 2011, for the Single A Lakewood BlueClaws, Castillo struck out 46 batters in 46 innings in 21 Games. His ERA was 2.54. He also sports a 95 MPH Fastball. The Phillies have incredible bullpen depth in the minors, so if Castillo toughs out 2012 in the Chicago Bullpen, it shouldn’t be too much of a loss. If he doesn’t make it, then he’ll be returned right back to the Phillies.
In the Minor League portion of the draft, the Phillies lost three players. The Reds took Third Baseman Travis “Moose” Mattair (.231/.290/.372, 8 HR, 44 RBI, 90 G between A & A+, 22 years old), the Pirates selected Catcher Francisco Diaz (.211/.315/.257, 0 HR, 7 RBI, 36 G at A- Williamsport, 21 years old), and the Orioles took Left-Hander Andy Loomis (1-2, 1.14 ERA, 28 G, 31.2 IP, 39 K at A+ Clearwater, 26 years old).
The Phillies did not select a player this year, marking the first time since 2005 they have done so.
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In just about 2 hours the Anaheim Angels almost doubled what the free-spending Marlins have spent this entire offseason. The Anaheim Angels shocked the baseball world by signing First Baseman Albert Pujols to a 10-year, $254 million deal. The contract includes a full-no-trade clause. Shortly afterwards they signed Starting Pitcher CJ Wilson to a 5 year, $75 million deal.
Interestingly enough, the Marlins had larger offers in place for both Wilson AND Pujols. The Marlins had a 6 year, $80 million deal with an option for a seventh on the table for Wilson. They also had a 10 year, $275 million deal in place for Pujols. Adding in incentives, and the value is raised to almost $300 million, making it what would have been the largest contract in MLB History. It did not, however, include a no-trade clause, which is the reason Pujols did not take the deal.
Chew on this. Jayson Stark reported last night, before Pujols had signed with Aneheim, that there was a third mystery team in the fray. The mystery team offered Pujols a 10-year deal worth at least $200 million, and needed to trade an established first baseman to make room.
Which MLB teams could have spent $200 million on Pujols, but had to trade a first baseman first?
The Detroit Tigers? I think they’re happy with their duo of Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez. The Red Sox? I think the same could be said for A-Gon and Big Papi, though the recent turmoil in the clubhouse may have changed the Red Sox minds. The Nationals? Adam LaRoche shouldn’t be a huge problem to move around, and they’ve been free spenders before.
How about the Phillies? Trading Ryan Howard wouldn’t be easy, but Stark never said moving the first baseman would be an easy move. If they moved Howard’s $25 million per, traded Polanco’s $6 million and didn’t resign J-Roll for $13 per, they could’ve fit him.
Only the Nationals and Phillies really make sense. I don’t know if we’ll ever find out who the third wheel was, but it’s obviously pretty fun to think about.
“Good Chance” Ryan Madson accepts Arbitration
UPDATE, 10:21 PM EST: The New York Mets have signed Jon Rauch to a one-year deal. They have also signed Frank Francisco to a two-year deal. Though it takes a destination for Madson and K-Rod off the board, it also takes two closers out of play instead of one. Less competition, but less destinations as well.
UPDATE, 9:20 PM EST: Jayson Stark reports that the Red Sox acquiring Athletics closer Andrew Bailey is a “real possibility” and that it should scare Madson and K-Rod. If Boston is taken off the board, that would leave only San Diego and Cincinnati as viable options, with the Mets getting close to a deal for Jon Rauch. The Rangers are lurking, though would only sign another closer under the “right circumstances”. Also, do not forget that Francisco Cordero, Cincinnati’s closer in 2011, is still in play. It’s essentially three closers and two viable jobs, so perhaps one of Madson or K-Rod will take the safe route and accept arbitration…The plot thickens.
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UPDATE, 7:47 PM EST: As is per the course, there will be conflicting reports. Peter Gammons tweets that there is no interest from Madson and K-Rod in accepting arbitration from their respective clubs. We’ll see which report is correct soon.
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I can’t say I expected it, but I can definitely say I hoped.
Jayson Stark reports that there are serious rumblings at the Winter Meetings that Ryan Madson will accept the Phillies offer of arbitration due to the lack of closing opportunities. Stark thinks that K-Rod could do the same with the Brewers. The move would deny the Phillies some prospects in this year’s draft, but this could set up one of the best bullpens the Phillies have had in a long time. Imagine a Phillies bullpen that includes Antonio Bastardo, Ryan Madson and Jonathan Papelbon. Top that with a rotation with Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels and the rumblings before next year won’t be the best rotation ever assembled: It may be the best Pitching Staff ever assembled.
Of course we’re ahead of ourselves. Ryan Madson still has to actually accept, which Scott Boras, the money-grubbing jerk that he is, is advising him against doing. However, the closer market is shrinking. The Marlins have nailed down Heath Bell. The Phillies have Papelbon. The Red Sox have Bard. The Angels are attempting to acquire Brandon League from the Mariners. The Brewers have Axford. The Blue Jays have Sergio Santos.
Does Madson really want to pitch in San Diego or New York (Mets) just so he has the opportunity to close? Would Madson take a closer position on a non-contender? If not, Cincinnati and Boston (if they are not confident in Bard) are your only options.
How much would Madson make in arbitration? $7 million? $8 million? Certainly not the $11 million he was going to make before his initial deal with the Phillies fell through. If Madson does make $8 million, then the Phillies would just about be limited to signing Jimmy Rollins this offseason. Aramis Ramirez may no longer factor into their financial plans. Madson accepting would also close the door on Brad Lidge returning to Philadelphia. The Phillies going through arbitration with Madson and signing Jimmy Rollins would leave them with some wiggle room during the season, which Amaro always likes so that he could make a mid-season move if need be.
There are so many questions, and so few answers. Would the potential of one of the best pitching staffs in the Majors be enough to entice Madson, like the rotation did with Lee? Would he accept less money to come back? Or would the opportunity to close be far more important, enough to make him pitch on a non-contender?
We’ll find out within the next 24 hours.
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Rambling Phillies Fan 