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The Philadelphia Phillies have just re-upped with pitcher Cole Hamels, signing him to a historic contract extension.
According to ESPN.com, Hamels signed a six-year, $144 million contract extension with Philly on Wednesday (July 25), which will run through the 2018 season and includes a vesting option for 2019, along with a limited no-trade provision.
The deal is largest contract signed by a Philadelphia athlete in history, and second-highest for a pitcher behind the $161 million deal the New York Yankees gave CC Sabathia in December 2008.
If Hamels opted to become a free agent in the off-season, it's likely would have been the most coveted free-agent pitcher. However, he's consistently said that he enjoys playing in Philadelphia and wanted to return to emulate one of his boyhood heroes, Tony Gwynn, and play his entire career for one franchise.
At 28, he becomes the third Phillies starter making $20 million per season, joining Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.
Hamels is a three-time All-Star, and currently holds a 11-4 record with a 3.23 ERA this season, and owns a career record of 85-58 with a 3.38 ERA in seven years in Philly.
During his career, he's never won more than 15 games in a season, and his 2.79 ERA in 2011 was the only time he was under 3.06.
