Phillies Lock Up Cole Hamels

Avoiding arbitration, the Phillies signed LHP Cole Hamels to a three year, $20.5 million deal. The Phillies starting pitcher, who at 25 years of age went 14-10 with a 3.09 ERA (and 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in the post season) last year, will make $4.35 million in 2009, $6.65 million in 2010 and $9.5 million in 2011.