2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels lands with Padres

Veteran pitcher Cole Hamels has not taken to the bump in a Major League Baseball game since pitching in one game for the Atlanta Braves during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

At 39 years old, the four-time All-Star is attempting to make a comeback. Multiple media reports indicate that Hamels has signed on with the San Diego Padres. Robert Murray of FanSided notes that it’s a minor league contract for Hamels.

A World Series MVP during his time with the Philadelphia Phillies back in 2008, Hamels has not seen a ton of success in recent years. Since the start of the 2018 campaign, the former first-round pick has pitched to a 16-20 record with a 3.83 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 60 starts. Prior to that, he was among the best hurlers in the game.

• Cole Hamels stats (2006-17): 147-102 record, 3.37 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 2,227 strikeouts

In addition to his four All-Star appearances, Hamels has finished in the top-10 in Cy Young voting another four times throughout his career.

He will now look to crack a rotation that’s headed by the recently extended Yu Darvish as well as Joe Musgrave and Blake Snell. Cole Hamels is the third veteran the Friars have brought on leading up to Spring Training, joining the likes of Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo in the process.