Phillies Sign Hamels To One-Year Deal
Updated: Monday, 20 Feb 2012, 1:11 PM EST
Published : Tuesday, 17 Jan 2012, 12:48 PM EST
The Philadelphia Phillies said on Tuesday they agreed to a one-year deal with Cole Hamels to avoid arbitration.
Hamels will get $15 million in the final year of his current deal with the Phillies and he will become a free agent if Ruben Amaro doesn’t sign the veteran starter to an extension.
Infielder Wilson Valdez also agreed to a one-year deal with the Phillies.
Hamels has spent his entire career with the Phillies and was the team’s top starter when it won the 2008 World Series.
Hamels, 28, went 14-9 with a 2.79 ERA in 32 games (31 starts) for the Phillies last year. He was selected to his second career All-Star Game and finished fifth in National League Cy Young Award voting.
He also has the Phillies’ all-time lead in postseason victories with seven.
Valdez appeared in 99 games for the Phillies last season, batting .249 with 14 doubles, four triples, one home run and 30 RBI.
Right fielder Hunter Pence is the Phillies’ lone remaining player eligible for salary arbitration.