If Jered Weaver Gets $85 Million, What Does This Mean for Cole Hamels?
Howard Smith - US Presswire
It’s the old contract rule. If Player A gets this and Player B is every bit as good as Player A, then Player B clearly deserves what Player A got. Case in point: Jered Weaver just signed a five-year, $85 million extension. What does this mean for Cole Hamels?
Hamels is under control of the Philadelphia Phillies through 2012, but his three-year deal expires after this year, which means the Phillies need to either sign him to a one-year deal and let him hit free agency or lock him up long-term now. It makes sense to lock him up now. After all, Hamels is a bonafide ace, the MVP of the ’08 World Series champs, and it would save the whole contract year hassles.
Let’s look at the career numbers of Jered Weaver compared to Cole Hamels:
They’re shockingly similar. I had no idea just how alike these two pitchers are. Both debuted in 2006. Both have made roughly the same number of starts. Their ERAs are within a tenth of a run of another. Each has made two All-Star teams.
Weaver is having the better year at 14-6 with a league-leading 2.10 ERA, but it’s not as if Hamels is a slouch at 13-7, 2.62, plus a league-leading 0.988 WHIP. On Baseball Reference, they are listed as the most similar pitcher to one another. Factor in that Hamels also has a ring (plus an NLCS and World Series MVP award), and Hamels can pencil in $85 million for himself.
The Phillies are paying out $60 million to Roy Halladay over the next three years (this year included) and $120 million to Cliff Lee, plus whatever Ryan Madson gets (assuming he stays). Factor in that Joe Blanton is making $8.5 million as next year’s fourth or fifth starter, and that’s a lot of cash for the Phillies to pay.
Hamels is worth it though. He’s still young, just 27 years old. He’s never been seriously hurt in the big leagues. He’s matured an unbelievable amount. And he’s probably going to get a nine-figure deal.
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