RB’S HAMELS AGREES TO MINOR LEAGUE DEAL
Cole Hamels is coming home. The Rancho Bernardo High School alumnus agreed to a minorleague deal Thursday that will pay him $2 million if he is on the Padres’ major league roster. With performance incentives, the deal could be worth $4 million.
The 39-year-old Hamels, who was the MVP of the 2008 National League Championship Series and World Series with the Phillies, is in his second attempt at a comeback from various injuries. The lefthander last pitched in 2020, when he made one start for the Braves. He signed with the Dodgers in 2021 but never played due to a shoulder injury.
Hamels has undergone three surgeries in the past year — on his throwing shoulder, right knee and left foot. He told the Associated Press in December that he is painfree after the procedures. He threw for teams last week, and the Padres were one of multiple clubs interested in signing him to a minorleague contract.
Hamels decided to join his hometown team even after the Padres signed Michael Wacha to give them six starters on the big-league
roster.
The acquisition of Hamels is another step toward building depth to protect against injury or inefficiency during a season in which the Padres appear positioned for a run at a first World Series championship.
Hamels is likely to join the Padres by the end of the weekend or beginning of next week.
Over his career, the former UCLA standout has amassed a 163122
record and 3.43 ERA over 2,698 innings. Hamels made his fourth All-Star appearance in 2016 at Petco Park. He posted a 3.81 ERA over 1412⁄3 innings (27 starts) in his last full season in 2019 with the Cubs.
Salas to play
The Padres believe catcher Ethan Salas, the 16-year-old who was roundly considered this year’s top international prospect and signed for a $5.825 million bonus, is advanced enough that they have lofty plans for him this spring.
Multiple club executives said Salas is expected to play in at least a few Cactus League games. He participated in the team’s minicamp in San Diego last month and caught bullpens for major leaguers, including Yu Dar vish.
Rosario to 60-day IL
To make room for Wacha on the 40-man roster, the Padres transferred infielder Eguy Rosario to the 60-day IL.
Rosario suffered a broken ankle in winter ball and is expected to be sidelined until midsummer.
“It’s too bad for Rosario,” Padres manager Bob Melvin said recently while speaking of the opportunities many young players will get in camp because so many Padres position players are participating in the World Baseball Classic. “This probably would have been the best opportunity he would have.”
The 23-year-old Rosario, primarily a third baseman, made his major league debut last August. He had a hit and a walk in six plate appearances over seven games.