Philadelphia Phillies: 3 veteran FA pitchers better than Anibal Sanchez
By David Esser
Cole Hamels
Wouldn’t be a free agent starting pitcher list without Cole Hamels!
Okay but in all seriousness, if the Philadelphia Phillies are looking to add one more starter this offseason, the 2008 World Series MVP should be at the top of their list. The left-hander had an absolutely abysmal 2020 season, pitching just 3.1 innings for the Braves after signing a one-year/$18 million contract. Hamels battled shoulder issues all season long, which ultimately left him unable to compete.
However, if Hamels has managed to get himself healthy this past offseason, he’d be the perfect type of guy to buy low on, with the hopes of him returning to his previous 2019 form (3.81 ERA across 27 starts for the Cubs).
Not only would Hamels provide a huge boost to the clubhouse and overall fan morale, but he’d also be a fantastic back-of-the-rotation option. If he could hypothetically return to his Chicago form, the Phillies would be trotting out a starting rotation that runs five deep, giving them an honest chance to compete in the NL East.
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Even with Hamels starting to get up there in age, there’s a reason the Braves were willing to pay the big bucks for him last offseason. He’s still an incredibly talented pitcher, who likely still has a little gas left in the tank. What better way for him to end his career than back in Philadelphia.