Los Angeles Dodgers Reportedly Signing 4-Time All-Star Pitcher

The MLB trade deadline this year turned out to be an arms race in the NL West. With the Los Angeles Dodgers losing ground to the San Francisco Giants, they’re bringing in an All-Star arm for some added help.

According to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, the Dodgers are “closing in” on signing free agent pitcher Cole Hamels. The signing would come nearly 11 months since Hamels’ last appearance on the mound.

Hamels is a four-time All-Star from his stints with the Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers. He holds a career ERA of 3.43, a 163-122 record and over 2,500 strikeouts. Hamels also had seven career shutouts in 17 completed games.

But the last two years have been a bit rough for Hamels. After pitching just 3.1 innings for the Atlanta Braves last September and giving up three runs, nobody signed him in the spring.

At his height, Cole Hamels was a dominating presence on the mound and a perennial candidate for Cy Young honors. He made his first All-Star appearance in 2007 – his second MLB season – and helped lead the Phillies to their first World Series title in decades the following year, earning World Series MVP honors for his efforts.

Hamels’ final start for the Phillies was a no-hitter against the Chicago Cubs on July 25, 2015. Several days later, he was traded to the Rangers.

Hamels would play two full seasons and two partial seasons with the Rangers before being traded to the Cubs in 2018. He went 7-7 in 27 starts with a 3.81 ERA in 2019.

Welcome back to the majors, Cole.

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