Phillies Reportedly Had Disgraceful Lowball Offer for Cole Hamels Before He Signed With Braves
By Jerry Trotta
The Atlanta Braves pulled off quite a shocker on Wednesday when they signed free agent southpaw Cole Hamels to a one-year deal worth $18 million.
In the wake of the news, it was reported that Hamels' decision was aided due to conversations he had with Ryan Howard and Jeff Francoeur, both of whom coaxed him to sign with the Braves. But it appears that wasn't all that convinced the left-hander. Another tidbit of news from this whole ordeal surfaced after he signed.
The Phillies, another team in the running for his services, reportedly offered Hamels around $9 million, which, of course, equates to half of what he'll make in Atlanta.
Phillies offered Cole Hamels around $9 million, around half of what he got from the Braves, according to @ToddZolecki
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) December 5, 2019
Cole Hamels really wanted to return to Philly where he still has a homehttps://t.co/vbVK5mrWVv
What makes that tasteless offer all the more sour is the fact that Hamels still owns a home in the City of Brotherly Love, and reportedly wanted nothing more than return to the place where he helped deliver a world championship.
As for the Phillies, we get that the MLB is a business first and foremost, and Hamels isn't nearly the hurler he was in his heyday, but this is seriously how you attempt to repay your former NLCS and World Series MVP?
The #Phillies and Zack Wheeler agree on a five-year, $118 million deal. Why they wanted him, what’s next and why Cole Hamels did not return to Philly. https://t.co/RWCGfBSYm0
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) December 5, 2019
Instead, Phillies general manager Matt Klentak coughed up $118 million to Zack Wheeler, who has made just 126 career starts and has never pitched 200 innings in a season at the age of 29.
Now, the Phillies will have to watch Hamels take the rubber for an NL East rival that is more ready to win now than they are.