Hamels Open To An Extension With The Cubs
Mid-season addition, Cole Hamels apparently loved his time on the northside, and is very interested in a contract extension with the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs have a $20 million option on Hamels, which they have until Friday to pick-up. If they do not pick up his option by Friday, Hamels will become a free agent and the Texas Rangers, his former team, will be on the hook for his $6 million buyout.
John Boggs, Hamels’ agent, spoke with 670 The Score on Monday and said this about the 34-year old starter.
“Cole enjoyed his experience playing with the Cub this season. We are waiting to hear from them on what they plan to do. We are certainly open to anything that makes sense for Cole and the Cubs going forward. The Cubs told me that Cole was an excellent addition to the team and the clubhouse. We will just sit and wait for a decision.”
Hamels had suffered through his last year and a half in Texas, battling injury and mechanics. But just before he was traded to the Cubs, Hamels believed he fixed the mechanical issues that taunted him, and his results proved him to be right.
In 12 starts for the Cubs, Hamels was 4-3 with a 2.36 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP.
Theo Epstein raved about Hamels in his end of year press conference, and it very much seems that there is mutual interest from both parties in working out a deal.
“We are looking to have as much depth as possible in our rotation,” Epstein said. “We are not looking to get rid of starting pitchers. We are looking to have as much depth as possible, so we can withstand multiple injuries.”
This should be a rather easy one to figure out. I would certainly expect that we hear that the Cubs picked up Hamels’ option soon, and they will then figure out a two-year deal soon after.
