Hamels, Phillies agree to one-year, $15M deal

Hamels, Ellsbury Avoid Arbitration

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• Hamels, Ellsbury Avoid Arbitration
  

  Hamels, Ellsbury Avoid Arbitration

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  Ellsbury and Sox Reach Deal

PHILADELPHIA — Left-hander Cole Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed on a $15 million, one-year contract, avoiding arbitration.

Hamels’ salary is the highest ever for any arbitration-eligible pitcher before being eligible for free agency. In 2005, Roger Clemens accepted arbitration from the Astros when he was a free agent and wound up getting $18 million.

The previous record for an arbitration-eligible player was the $12.4 million that Carlos Zambrano received from the Chicago Cubs in 2007.

Hamels is now a year away from free agency. And although the two sides have had conversations about a multiyear contract, their decision to agree on a one-year deal is an indication they’ve never come close to coming to terms on a long-term contract.

“We’re happy we’ve concluded the one-year portion of this,” Hamels’ agent, John Boggs, told ESPN.com. “And at the appropriate time, I’m sure we’ll have dialogue with the Phillies and continue talking about a multiyear deal.”

The 2008 World Series MVP went 14-9 with a 2.79 ERA in 32 games last year. Hamels was selected to his second career All-Star Game and finished fifth in National League Cy Young Award voting.

The Phillies also avoided arbitration with infielder Wilson Valdez, agreeing to a $930,000, on-year deal.

Information from ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark and The Associated Press was used in this report.

Source: http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7471363/cole-hamels-philadelphia-phillies-agree-one-year-15m-deal