As romantic as a Phillies reunion with Cole Hamels sounded, it just wasn’t going to work.
Hamels is on his way to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a deal that pays him $ 1 million plus $ 200,000 for every start he makes, according to several reports.
The Phillies could have afforded it. You’re well below the $ 210 million luxury tax threshold, and that wouldn’t be a hindrance anyway, as Baseball Operations President Dave Dombrowski was OK to review the tax for the right opportunity – someone like, let’s just say , Craig Kimbrel.
The Phillies couldn’t offer Hamels two things:
A capable team.
And a guaranteed place in the press when it is ready to pitch.
Dombrowski alluded to the latter 10 days ago.
“We saw him (in his showcase),” said Dombrowski. “We liked him. He threw the ball well. I think what we have to factor in is what can we do now when we know that Cole, as much as we like him, might not be ready in 30 to 40 days? Because when you sign it, you’re basically telling him you’re giving him a place on the rotation. I don’t know now if we’re at the point where I can say that 100 percent. In five days, six days, will I be able to say that? Possibly. “
Five or six days went by and the Phillies bought a starting pitcher (Kyle Gibson) and won another (Ranger Suarez) through an internal move.
There is still some uncertainty about the rotation as Zach Eflin remains on the injured list with tendinitis of his right knee. But Dombrowski and others have said they expect Eflin back this month.
When Eflin returns, the Phillies will have a full rotation – Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Gibson, Suarez, and Eflin.
Sure, there is always uncertainty when dealing with an injury, and the depth that Hamels would have offered would have been nice, but at this stage of his career the 37-year-old left-hander wants to know that he will get the ball regularly.
And he also wants to win. He wants another ring to match the one he won in Philadelphia in 2008. Yes, the Phillies 2021 are in a playoff chase, but mostly by default because the National League East is so weak. The Dodgers have a much better chance of satisfying Hamel’s wish for a win in October. You won the World Series last year and are built to do it again this year.
For a team so overloaded and so expensive – the payroll is around $ 285 million after the close of trading last week’s acquisitions – the Dodgers ran into an unexpected deficit at the start. Dustin May, Clayton Kershaw and Tony Gonsolin are all on the injured list and Trevor Bauer is out indefinitely as MLB and law enforcement investigate sexual assault allegations.
The Dodgers have been proactive in filling these holes. They traded against three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer last week (they also got Trea Turner in the deal) and now have Hamels in the pipeline.
The Dodgers are coming to Philadelphia for a three-game series on Tuesday. Hamels won’t be ready to field by then, but the Phillies will see a few elite weapons straight out of the slide. Cy Young candidate Walker Buehler is on for the first game in the series and Scherzer for the second game.
Scherzer has beaten the Phillies three times this season and is 14-4 with 2.55 ERA in 24 career starts against them.
Hamels, who was limited to just 3 1/3 innings with the Atlanta Braves due to a shoulder problem last season, should be ready in time for the Stretch Drive in September later this month. Aside from trying to help the Dodgers win ball games, he’ll be showing up for a contract next season.
Maybe then we will see the Phillies again.
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