Philadelphia Phillies, Cole Hamels Agree To $15 Million Deal

The Philadelphia Phillies and left-handed starting pitcher Cole Hamels have agreed to a one-year, $15 million deal, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The deal means that both sides will avoid an arbitration hearing.

Hamels' new 2012 salary of $15 million is one of the largest figures ever received for a player through arbitration. Hamels will be a free agent at the end of this season and is expected to be the top pitcher on the market for the 2013 season. He is currently a part of one of the top pitching staffs in the MLB with the Phillies, along with Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay.

Hamels is represented by the John Boggs and Associates agency. Hamels was on a three-year, $20 million deal for the past three seasons. He made over $9 million last season, making $9 million total in the preceding years. It was the largest annual contract to a first year arbitration pitcher.