The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Braves add pitcher Hamels
Ex-Cubs left-hander agrees to one-year deal with contender.
The Braves wanted to add a veteran to their rotation. They landed a former familiar foe.
Left-hander Cole Hamels agreed to a oneyear, $18 million deal Wednesday.
Hamels, who turns 36 later this month, produced a 3.81 ERA with 143 strikeouts against 56 walks last season for the Cubs. He pitched 141⅓ innings after being limited by a left oblique strain, failing to log over 190 innings for only the second time in 10 seasons. He also was stalled by a more serious oblique strain in 2017 with the Rangers.
Before the recent injury, Hamels owned a 2.98 ERA across 17 starts (99⅔ innings). When he returned over a month later, he posted a 5.79 ERA over his final 10 outings.
“I attest a lot to just trying to be healthy,”
Hamels said. “I put in a lot of time. I know sometimes it doesn’t always directly have the results, but I really do put a ton of effort into being healthy. I put in effort into studying the game, trying to learn the new influences of what analytics can do on top of what I’ve been able to feel and learn from the in-game adjustments that I really feel like I’m pretty good with. It’s just being able to stay on top of everything.
“I really tried to get down to the bare bones of who I am as a pitcher — a four-seam fastball guy with a good change-up, curveball and the occasional cutter. It was just a matter of being able to throw it at the right time and then being effective with it. I felt like that was a lot better off when I was able to locate those pitches before I had my injury. Because once I had the injury, I could just never really establish the feel, and then I was actually trying to overthrow and force pitches and nothing was going right.”
Hamels made a name for himself in Philadelphia, where he pitched from 2006 through part of 2015. He was a threetime All-Star for the Phillies, winning National League Championship Series and World Series MVP honors in 2008.
“We think he has a chance to pitch at a high level for a long time,” Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said.
The Braves lost two veterans in their rotation when Dallas Keuchel hit free agency and the club declined its option on Julio Teheran. Hamels fills part of that void and brings a comparable resume to Keuchel, who’s unlikely to be re-signed.
Hamels wasn’t attached to a qualifying offer, meaning the Braves didn’t relinquish a draft pick for signing him. They could still pursue Madison Bumgarner, who comes with a qualifying offer attached, or another seasoned starter to complete their rotation. It’s worth noting the Braves already have two lefties in their rotation: Hamels and Max Fried. Sean Newcomb also is a rotation candidate. An abundance of southpaws could be especially useful in the postseason.
It hasn’t been a quiet offseason for the Braves, who had signed relievers Will Smith, Chris Martin and Darren O’Day, along with catcher Travis d’Arnaud, before the Hamels deal. The team has spent over $45 million for 2020 salary in free agency. Total contracts, including those given to Nick Markakis and Tyler Flowers, exceed $80 million. Yet only Smith’s deal runs beyond two seasons.
While the team could use further pitching help, the glaring remaining hole is at third base (or rather the cleanup spot). Last year’s difference-maker, Josh Donaldson, remains unsigned.
If Donaldson leaves, the Braves will be forced to turn elsewhere to address their clean-up spot. They’ll need a big bat, be it at third or in the outfield, to replace Donaldson’s offense. In the meantime, the Braves have aggressively strengthened their pitching. The club invested heavily in its relief group, and now adds Hamels to the rotation.