Cole Hamels

The San Diego Padres have signed veteran free agent Cole Hamels to a minor league deal.

Fantasy Impact

This will surely come with an invite to MLB spring training after Hamels threw for interested teams earlier this month. The veteran left-hander is attempting a comeback as he last pitched in the 2020 season but only made one start for the Braves before hitting the injured list. His last extended work was 27 starts of 3.81 ERA ball for the 2019 Cubs. Now 39, Hamels will get a chance to lengthen a Padres rotation that has Seth Lugo and Nick Martinez stretching out as starters for a potential six-man rotation in the 2023 season.

Free agent pitcher Cole Hamels is receiving interest following a throwing session.

Fantasy Impact

In his piece, Heyman categorizes Hamels' throwing session as 'impressive'. Should he make it back, it would be quite the comeback story as Hamels hasn't pitched since 2020 when he threw just 3 1/2 innings for the Braves. In other words, he hasn't pitched meaningful big league baseball since his 27 starts with the 2019 Cubs when he pitched to a 3.81 ERA and 23.2% K%. Once one of the game's best, Hamels appears likely to get at least a spring training look from an MLB club.

Cole Hamels, now 38 years old, plans to pitch again when healthy.

Fantasy Impact

Hamels has pitched just three innings since 2020 as injuries have piled up. He ended the 2019 season with shoulder fatigue but pitched a strong 141.2 innings with a 3.81 ERA. The Braves signed him to a one-year deal, but he managed just 3.1 innings after dealing with triceps tendinitis and shoulder fatigue. He missed all of 2021 with shoulder issues and finally had surgery in November 2021. Hamels will likely be unavailable until at least mid-season but plans to pitch again.

Cole Hamels is done for the season after more arm pain. Hamels hasn't pitched in 2021 and the Dodgers will have to pay him $1 million.

Fantasy Impact

Hamels has battled injuries over the past two seasons with only 3 1/3 innings pitched back in 2020. Before then, Hamels was on the decline but serviceable with a 3.78 ERA in 2018 and 3.81 in 2019.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports the Dodgers are closing on on a deal for free agent LHP Cole Hamels.

Fantasy Impact

The 37-year-old made just one appearance last season, but he'll provide some rotation depth down the stretch for LA. Hamels will need to build up his arm strength for now, so we shouldn't expect to see him until early September.