Phils sign Hamels: 3 years, $20.5 million

by dajafi on Jan 17, 2009 1:25 PM EST

Done deal. My regard for Ruben Amaro Jr. just went up about five levels.

Reportedly, Hamels will pull down $4.35 million in 2009, $6.65 million next season, and $9.5 million in 2011. Given the strong likelihood that he would have gotten more in arbitration for each of those seasons--aside from injury, of course--one has to give Amaro tremendous credit here. It's also a strong move to counter what otherwise could be public fallout from the near-inevitable coming contract battle with Ryan Howard: as with when the Phils inked Bobby Abreu and Pat Burrell to long-term contracts after conflict with Scott Rolen, it will now be that much harder to make the case that the team is generically cheap.

Happy day.

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good good good good GOOD

GOOD STUFF.

This is how it’s supposed to work; Hamels wants to hedge against injury, and the Phillies want to keep their ace happy and paid at a manageable rate. Win-win.

http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?

by WholeCamels on Jan 17, 2009 1:30 PM EST reply actions

“Pay him, pay that man his money”

~Teddy KGB

Steve Jeltz
.210/.308/.268
"If you condensed everything I ever did in my career into one game, it looks decent"

by Steve Jeltz on Jan 17, 2009 1:35 PM EST reply actions

Woohoo!

Lefty v2.0

Great, great move. And yes, Ruben’s stock has gone up in my book too!

by ajay on Jan 17, 2009 2:03 PM EST reply actions

Still pissed about the Burrell/Ibanez fiasco, but this is definitely a good thing.

by FuquaManuel on Jan 17, 2009 2:23 PM EST reply actions

Is that all?

JHCOAC, Hamels got robbed.

Remember the Phitans

by RememberthePhitans on Jan 17, 2009 4:18 PM EST reply actions

JHCOAC?

Jesus H. Christ on a ???

by phatj on Jan 17, 2009 5:45 PM EST up reply actions

Crutch

Remember the Phitans

by RememberthePhitans on Jan 18, 2009 1:40 AM EST up reply actions

I always liked “carousel”.

http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?

by WholeCamels on Jan 18, 2009 10:28 AM EST up reply actions

My favorite is JHCOAPS

Pogo Stick

by phatj on Jan 18, 2009 11:48 AM EST up reply actions

This might count as nitpicky...

but the point isn’t exactly this:

Given the strong likelihood that he would have gotten more in arbitration for each of those seasons—aside from injury, of course

The point is that even taking into account chance of injury, the Phillies feel that Hamels would have gotten more in arbitration. What they will be paying him is less (they think, and I agree) than what they would have expected to pay him going year to year.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Jan 17, 2009 4:48 PM EST reply actions

No free agent years, right?

This doesn’t cover any free agent years, right?

by David S. Cohen on Jan 17, 2009 5:23 PM EST reply actions

Something I read earlier this week on an ESPN Chat (forget which chatter) that Hamels might have ‘record setting’; arbitrations ala Howard – so even if they are just buying some cost stability through the arbitration years I think it’s a good move.

Let’s just hope this isn’t the blind squirrel syndrome for Amaro

by jemagee on Jan 17, 2009 6:09 PM EST up reply actions

As my sex ed teacher taught us...

hope is not a method.

Remember the Phitans

by RememberthePhitans on Jan 18, 2009 1:41 AM EST up reply actions

$20.5 B,,,illllllion dollars (Dr. Evil style)

I read this earlier, obviously, having commented on it. Nevertheless, I flipped past it again and when it went by me, I saw in my mind’s eye, for a second “3 years, $20.5 billion” and I thought in that briefest of moments, “you know…that’s a bargain.”

I think I’d better go to sleep now. If I keep posting things like that, the Yankees front office might start calling.

Remember the Phitans

by RememberthePhitans on Jan 18, 2009 1:58 AM EST reply actions

what a deal!

king colebert for 20.5/3yrs? wow!
that being said this is the HIGHEST contract EVER given to a pitcher in their FIRST year arbitration eligibity…
and that ladies and gents, is why the king took that offer… it puts him in a class all on his own…
even after this contract expires, we still have one more year of arbitration – assuming we DONT sign him to an extension (which we will more than likely do at the end of next year, or before the 2nd year of this current contract…)
i truly think he likes being a phillie, especially after that parade – i think he’s hooked… another cali-guy turned philly! woohoo! lucky us…

by PHIGHTINPHILS on Jan 19, 2009 11:40 AM EST reply actions