Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies Contract Talks "Dormant"

Contract talks between Cole Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies "remain dormant", reports Buster Olney of ESPN. Hamels is set to hit free agency this winter if he and the Phillies are unable to reach a contract extension.

The Phillies and Hamels have expressed mutual interest in getting a deal done. However, talks have continued to drag on and there haven’t been reports of progress between the two sides recently.

After being drafted by Philadelphia in the first round of the 2002 MLB Draft, Hamels made his way through the Phillies farm system. Reaching the majors in 2006, Hamels has posted a career ERA and WHIP of 3.36 and 1.135 over his seven seasons in the bigs.

Hamels was named World Series MVP when the Phillies won it all in 2008 and finished fifth in National League Cy Young voting last season. So far in 2012 the southpaw has maintained an ERA and WHIP of 2.93 and 1.048 with 9.3 SO/9 and 1.8 BB/9.

Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reported last week that the Los Angeles Dodgers could make a run at Hamels. Ken Rosenthal recently reported that, if the Phillies do decide to sell this summer, they will likely try to move potential free agents such as Hamels.