Hamels Not Focusing On Contract Talks

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Cole Hamels spoke to reporters Monday afternoon at the Phillies' spring training camp in Clearwater and said it's where he hopes to return well beyond 2012.

Hamels, who signed a one-year deal that avoided arbitration, could become a free agent at the season's end. But he said he's not setting any deadline on contract talks, and he wants to remain a Phillie.

Despite his best season to date, Hamels said that a bone chip in his elbow bothered him for all of 2011. He hopes to be as close to 100 percent as he can be for 2012.

The 28-year-old has spent his entire career with the Phillies and was the team's top starter when it won the 2008 World Series. Last season he went 14-9 with a 2.79 ERA, was selected to his second career All-Star Game and finished fifth in National League Cy Young Award voting. He's also the Phillies' all-time lead in postseason victories with seven.

Hamels said he feels the team has gotten better since 2008 but hinted that it might have been a lack of "edge" that led them to fall short of winning a World Series again.

He said the Phillies' willingness to bring in more star players over the past few years has motivated him, as has the expectations that fans have for him.

Still, he said he can't focus on contract talks, just the next time he steps on the mound.

Not since the Phillies won the National League East in 2007 has this team gone to spring training with so many questions.

The health of Ryan Howard, Hamels's future, filling the loss of Roy Oswalt, who replaces Raul Ibanez in left field and whether the revamped bullpen is good enough are among the questions.

Answers start coming this week, as the Phillies have now opened camp for pitchers and catchers.

Watch FOX 29 Sports each night as Colleen Wolfe files live reports from Clearwater.