Categories: News

What’s the latest on Cole Hamels?

Cole Hamels had an extremely brief stint with the Braves. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

Philadelphia Phillies icon Cole Hamels remains a free agent, though there’s no indication currently that the 2008 World Series MVP plans to retire.

Jon Heyman of Audacy Sports says that Hamels “continues to work out every day, but there’s no time set for a showcase just yet.” That suggests that the four-time All-Star may eventually throw for teams, but until there is a date set, it’s tough to know.

Hamels, now 37, pitched just 3 1/3 innings for the division-rival Atlanta Braves in 2020, essentially a lost season because of shoulder and arm injuries. Still, back in December Heyman reported that “several teams” had checked in on Hamels, with MLB.com‘s Jon Morosi reporting in January that the San Francisco Giants were among those with some level of interest. Since then, though, there’s essentially been radio silence on Hamels’ future.

At this stage of his career, it’s entirely possible that Hamels is content to wait until the summer and pick what team he believes gives him the best opportunity to win a second World Series. Given that he’s dealt with injuries in each of the last two seasons, it’s entirely possible that he believes he’d be better suited to join a team in the summer, rather than try to pitch for a full season and potentially a playoff run.

Could Hamels potentially help the Phillies? Veteran lefty Matt Moore – one of three players now in the COVID protocol

– has gotten off to an extremely slow start in 2021, with a 9.82 ERA in three starts. Vince Velasquez is expected to start Friday in Colorado if Moore isn’t cleared, but there may come a point in the season that the Phillies need to consider an external addition. Hamels, Rick Porcello, Jeff Samardzija and Aníbal Sánchez are among the veterans currently still available on the free-agent market.