Dodgers Rumors: Cole Hamels Agrees to 1-Year Contract with Los Angeles

After acquiring Max Scherzer and Danny Duffy at the trade deadline, the Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly aren't done adding pitchers. 

Veteran southpaw Cole Hamels agreed to a one-year contract with the Dodgers on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez. Hamels will be guaranteed a prorated $1 million in the deal, earning an additional $200,000 for every start he makes, per ESPN's Buster Olney (h/t Gonzalez).

The 37-year-old passed his physical on Wednesday.

MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported the initial news that a deal was close.

Injuries limited Hamels to one start with the Atlanta Braves in 2020. He allowed three runs in 3.1 innings on Sept. 16 against the Baltimore Orioles. 

He's been a free agent since the offseason and has gone unsigned. The four-time All-Star did hold a showcase event in front of team scouts last month. 

Per MLB.com's Todd Zolecki, Hamels threw two 30-pitch bullpen sessions in Texas on July 16.

"His fastball averaged 88.5 mph but touched 90 mph. He threw each of his secondary pitches," Zolecki wrote. "They had good action, although his location wasn’t sharp. Friday could be considered the beginning of spring training for him, so velocity and command are expected to improve with time."

The Dodgers have seven pitchers on the injured list, including Duffy and Clayton Kershaw, who have both had forearm trouble. Trevor Bauer's administrative leave is set to end Aug. 6, but Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association could extend it for a fourth time as he remains under investigation after a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her.  

Kershaw had been expected to return from forearm inflammation soon, but manager Dave Roberts told reporters last week the three-time National League Cy Young winner experienced “residual soreness” after throwing a simulated game July 28. 

Hamels was an effective starter in his last full season with the Chicago Cubs in 2019. The southpaw posted a 3.81 ERA with 143 strikeouts in 143.2 innings over 27 starts. 

It's not clear when Hamels might join Los Angeles. Gonzalez noted Hamels will report to Dodger Stadium to throw his next bullpen session and then will go to the team's spring training facility as he continues to build up his arm strength for the stretch run.