Philadelphia Phillies: A Cole Hamels reunion might make sense

Should the Philadelphia Phillies turn to old friend Cole Hamels to help out their rotation?

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, like last offseason, but maybe the Philadelphia Phillies should consider bringing back World Series hero Cole Hamels.

You might point out that Hamels is almost 37 and looked to be in age-related decline even before missing nearly all of 2020 after an ill-fated signing with the Braves. And you could even question the desire to continue at this point for a guy who has made over $200 million in career earnings and has put up the 70th highest Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of any pitcher in MLB history during said career.

Simply put, would his heart even be in it, even at the right price and in a good situation?

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I believe that it would be. While Hamels’ shot at making the Hall of Fame has taken a tumble of late, he still has a path there. It would require two or three more productive seasons, depending on how good they are, and most likely hitting one or both “magic numbers” of 200 wins and 3,000 strikeouts. He currently needs 37 more wins and 440 strikeouts to hit those marks, with K’s being especially important (fair or not) since the only eligible players to reach that number and not yet be in Cooperstown are Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling. And we all know what’s keeping them out.

Beyond the stats for Hamels, he has a chance to cement his legacy even more by returning to Philadelphia.

Already one of the most wildly successful pitchers the franchise has ever had, and a home-grown talent to boot, it always seemed like there was unfinished business between the Phillies and Cole. Maybe, many of us thought, he could put the finishing touches on a Hall-worthy career in Philadelphia by coming back for a final year or two.

That time may have arrived, and the Phillies are actually in need of what he could potentially provide.

Right now, the top of the Phils’ rotation is set with Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, and a continually improving Zach Eflin. Hamels would not be needed to pitch big innings, but his presence would provide the left-handed change of pace that the rotation sorely lacks at the moment, with no options that are even close to viable on hand unless you think that Ranger Suarez would be a good idea.

Having a southpaw take the mound every fifth day for the Phils should have some kind of positive impact against talented bats in the NL East like Juan Soto, Michael Conforto, and Hamels’ former teammate (barely) Freddie Freeman. Tossing a group of nothing but right-handers out there is just asking to be eaten alive by these hitters, and I’ve always been a proponent of doing what you can to show different looks and force your opponents to adjust their strategy or approach.

I’m not under any delusions that Hamels is as good as he was five years ago when he left Philadelphia. But he made 27 starts with the Cubs in 2019, posting a 3.81 ERA and striking out over a batter per inning. Results approaching those numbers would be wholly worth it to bring him in for one final ride.

It’s not as simple as that, of course. Hamels may decide he’s had enough, milestone stats be damned. Or he could try to push for a contract with his hometown San Diego Padres. I wouldn’t blame him. That’s an attractive destination and a team that looks ready to challenge.

"But you have to believe that his history and lasting legacy with this franchise could be a determining factor in bringing him back, given the right price and expectation level."

I can see some people being wary of this, fearing a repeat of the Jake Arrieta situation. But there really is no comparison. The Phillies don’t need to reach deep down to make a gross, multi-year overpayment like they did for Arrieta. They should be able to approach a Hamels signing honestly. Assuming 2021 is a “normal” baseball season, they’d need 150 or so innings from him, with results resembling what he posted two years ago. He helps the Phils stay competitive while building his own personal case for Cooperstown. Anything else would be gravy. And if it doesn’t materialize for money or whatever reason, oh well. The point is, they need to at least try.

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Maybe this is all too nostalgic of me, but I believe that Cole Hamels could provide value for at least one more season, to either the Phillies or anyone else he might land with. It’s worth kicking the tires to see if an old friend might want to reunite, as it could provide real value to all parties involved.

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