As expected, the Philadelphia Phillies will enter the 2012 season with three-quarters of their famed stable of starting pitching intact. The Phillies inked starter Cole Hamels on Tuesday to a one-year deal worth $15 million, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, which will allow the two parties to avoid arbitration.
Hamels will rejoin Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay in the team's version of "Smoking Aces," but the fourth member of the crew, Roy Oswalt, will take his pitching talents elsewhere.
Hamels pitched 216.0 innings last year, finishing 14-9 with a 2.79 ERA and 194 strikeouts. He made the All-Star team and finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting in what might have been the best statistical season of his career.
The 28-year old could have been in line for a big long-term payday, but the Phillies decided to stick to a one-year deal instead and will need to revisit Hamels' contract situation after the season.
For more Philadelphia Phillies coverage, visit our team page or our blog The Good Phight.