Cole Hamels said Wednesday he won't be ready by the start of the season because he felt discomfort in his shoulder and biceps during his throwing program this offseason. While Hamels and the Phillies don't seem alarmed, there could be some cause for concern for Fantasy owners.
If you recall, Hamels dealt with some soreness in his left shoulder last offseason when he was gearing up for the 2013 campaign. Although he was ready by the start of the season, we remind you Hamels was 2-11 with a 4.58 ERA through the first three months of the season.
Now, poor run support did play a part in Hamels' poor win-loss record, but he allowed four or more runs in seven of his first 17 starts, so he also contributed to his struggles. The good news is that Hamels had a strong finish, going 6-3 with a 2.68 ERA in his final 16 starts.
The concern for me is that it sounds like Hamels isn't going to have a normal spring training and when he's finally ready to pitch in April, he could need some time to get caught up to speed. He wouldn't be the first player to struggle or need a conditioning period after missing time during the spring due to injury.
In the long run, Hamels could easily return to his ace form. However, with this news, he's likely to fall down the rankings Draft Day and you might need to look elsewhere for an ace pitcher.