Categories: News

Cole Hamels won’t be pitching for the Dodgers after all

Cole Hamels’ 2021 comeback isn’t happening.

The former Phillies pitcher was placed on the 60-day injured list on Monday, effectively ending his season. According to MLB.com, Hamels threw a simulated game on Aug. 7 at Dodger Stadium. The left-hander was scheduled to pitch two innings, but only ended up pitching one. He attempted to warm up for a second inning, but left the mound after a few pitches. The Dodgers have so far not specified what kind of injury Hamels is dealing with.

Cole Hamels was placed on the 60-day injured list by the Dodgers. (Marc Piscotty/Icon Sportswire)

The Dodgers signed Hamels to a one-year deal on Aug. 4 worth $1 million plus $200,000 for every start he made.

The Phillies showed interested in a reunion with the franchise icon. Following the July 30 trade deadline, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said the team would “revisit the conversation”

when asked about the possibility of the Phillies signing Hamels. On Aug. 3, Dombrowski told Scott Franzke on WIP that the team’s chances of signing Hamels were “a long shot.”

Hamels signed a one-year, $18 million deal with the Atlanta Braves prior to the 2020 season. He battled triceps tendinitis in July and recovered in time to debut for Atlanta in September. He threw three innings in a start against Baltimore and was placed back on the injured list with a left shoulder strain.

If Hamels stayed healthy, he would have been stretched out to pitch around five innings at some point in September. He’ll still collect $1 million from the Dodgers, but it appears the setback will jeopardize his chances of getting another major-league deal next year, if he chooses to pursue one.

To replace Hamels on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers selected the contract of former Phillies pitcher Neftalí Feliz. The former camp invitee had two disastrous outings at the end of June for Philadelphia and was designated for assignment shortly afterwards.