The Atlanta Braves decided to not wait around for Stephen Strasburg, Gerrit Cole and Zack Wheeler to make their decisions. Instead they were proactive and signed veteran Cole Hamels to a one year $18 million deal. Jeff Passan of ESPN tweeted out the following.
Left-hander Cole Hamels and the Atlanta Braves are in agreement on a one-year, $18 million deal, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 4, 2019
Last year with the Chicago Cubs, the 35-year-old went 7-7 with 3.81 ERA, and 143 strikeouts in 141.2/3 innings. Hamels missed all of July with an oblique injury. In his career he is 163-121, with 3.42 ERA, and 2558 strikeouts.
Hamels is a viable bounce back candidate as he had under a 3.00 ERA before he got hurt. He rejuvenated his career after arriving in Chicago as he posted a 3.30 ERA in 40 starts with the team.
Despite no longer being the NLCS and World Series MVP he was in 2008, Hamels is an innings eater who will bring veteran leadership and playoff experience to this hungry Braves team. He will join a young pitching staff of Max Fried, Mike Foltynewicz, and Mike Soroka, that will be able to compete with the NL East’s best.
Featured Image From NBC Sports.
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