Fansided

Top 25 MLB free agents for 2019

By Joshua Sadlock

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros celebrates retiring the side during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros celebrates retiring the side during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 16: Starting pitcher Cole Hamels #35 of the Chicago Cubs delivers the ball in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on September 16, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 16: Starting pitcher Cole Hamels #35 of the Chicago Cubs delivers the ball in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on September 16, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

18. Cole Hamels

Left-hander Cole Hamels might not have a case for the Hall of Fame when his MLB career is over, but he has been one of the most consistent left-handed starters in the league for 14 years. Hamels doesn’t quite have the eye-popping numbers that get pitchers into the Hall of Fame, and he was snake-bitten by a lack of run support early in his career with Philadelphia, but if he can grind it out until the age of 40, he will have an outside shot at Cooperstown.

Hamels has played out his eight-year, $173-million contract that kicked in after the 2011 season. He more than lived up to the deal, going 89-67 with a 3.44 ERA in 241 starts and making the All-Star Game twice. The 35-year-old starter has been the picture of consistency, with his ERA rising over 4.00 only once and averaging nearly 200 innings per season over the life of his deal.

Injuries have been a bit of an issue for Hamels in two of the past three seasons, but he has mostly avoided serious arm troubles, dealing with oblique strains in 2017 and 2019. Hamels posted a 7-7 record in 2019 with a 3.81 ERA for the Chicago Cubs and tied his career best with 9.1 strikeouts per-nine. He continues to throw one of the best changeups in the league.

Entering his age-36 season, Hamels still looks like he can pitch as long as he wants to. He can still hold down a mid-rotation spot for a contender and could return to the Philadelphia, a city where he has remained a fixture and fan favorite since being traded in 2015.

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