General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he also was working on deals with rightfielder Hunter Pence and infielder Wilson Valdez, the two other Phillies eligible for salary arbitration.
At 28, Hamels is going into his final season of being eligible for salary arbitration. And after making $9.5 million last season, he is expected to get a raise of at least $4.5 million and possibly more in 2012.
In the unlikely event the Phillies and Hamels' agent, John Boggs, cannot reach an agreement before Tuesday's deadline, the sides will at least have to lay their cards on the table for the world to see.
For most of us, it's like watching a game of monopoly. The team will submit a salary at about $12 million. Hamels' agent will counter at about $16 million. The sides will have about a month to find a middle ground and likely avoid the ordeal of sitting in an arbitration hearing and telling each other and a panel of arbitrators why they think their number is best.
That's how this salary arbitration process has worked - some would argue that it has not worked - for nearly 40 years since the late Charlie Finley, colorful owner of the Oakland Athletics, warned his fellow owners that the system would benefit the players more than the teams. Ol' Charlie had that one right, even if he was a little off on the orange baseball idea.
Pence and Valdez will get raises in this process, too. Valdez, however, should not expect as much per victory as Hamels, Roy Halladay, and Cliff Lee. Pence, who will be 29 in April, made $6.9 million last season and likely will get at least a $4 million raise. Valdez, who is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time at age 33, could make $1 million for the first time in his career.
