Phillies Preparing Serious Contract Offer for Cole Hamels


The Phillies are reportedly preparing a serious offer to place in front of starting pitcher Cole Hamels. Hamels will be a free agent at the end of the season and the Phils will probably look to either extend his contract or trade him before the July 31st deadline.

That’s an indication, with free agency only a few months away, the Phillies essentially will have to offer free-agent market dollars — and years — if they hope to sign him now. If they can’t, they are likely to turn their attention to trading him before the deadline, and then likely making another attempt to sign him in the offseason. [ESPN]

Matt Cain’s five-year, $112.5 million extension, signed in April, and Cliff Lee’s five-year, $120 million deal from 2010 are probably the two largest indicators of what Hamels would fetch on the open market. Below, we’ve compiled a thorough, but not exhaustive list of what we’re comfortable with the team offering Cole Hamels to keep him in Philly.

1. Unlimited water ice.

2. A SEPTA monthly anywhere pass.

3. A key to the city.

4. Personal use of the new scoreboard whenever he likes.

5. The opportunity to pick everyone’s walk-up song for the duration of his contract, with the exception of Chase Utley, who will still walk out to Kashmir.

6. All the loot that kid buys in the Disney movie Blank Check. Yes, including the sumo suits, human bowling, and the water slide from his bedroom to his pool.