Cole Hamels and Philadelphia Phillies agree to $144 Million Deal

The Philadelphia Phillies kept their man. Cole Hamels agreed to a contract extension with the team reportedly worth $144 million over six years.

There is a vesting option in the deal that could make the package worth more than $160 million. Hamels, 28, is 11-4 with a 3.23 ERA in 19 starts this season.

His career record with the Phillies is 85-58 with a 3.38 ERA lifetime for the Phillies.

Hamels would have hit the free-agent market after this season where he would have commanded a megadeal.

Instead the Phillies decided not to let that happen and do everything possible to keep Hamels in the organization.

the Phillies have a history of keeping their players, with Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins all signing long-term deals with the club in the past.

The signing of  Hamels insures that the Phillies will keep intact a starting rotation that is among the best in all of baseball.

Combined with Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee the Phillies also have one of the most expensive rotations in baseball.

The signing moves Zack Greinke and Josh Johnson to the head of the pack in the July pitching market.

James Shields of the Tampa Bay Rays is also becoming a hot commodity. Shields could be traded very soon.