The Dodgers placed veteran left-hander Cole Hamels on the 60-day injured list on Monday, ending his season less than two weeks after he signed with Los Angeles. Hamels felt "shoulder pain" during a recent simulated game, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman.
Hamels, 37, has now been limited by various injuries to just one appearance and three innings the past two seasons. (He missed most of the 2020 campaign after signing a one-year pact with the Atlanta Braves.) It's unclear if Hamels intends to pitch again heading forward, or if this injury will spur his retirement. Either way, he'll turn 38 in December.
The Dodgers had been hopeful that Hamels could stabilize the back of their rotation. Instead, he'll join Los Angeles' list of inactive starting pitching options, including Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May (out for the season), Danny Duffy, Tony Gonsolin, and Julio Urías. Trevor Bauer is also unavailable, with his administrative leave being extended on a weekly basis as the league and Pasadena police continue to investigate sexual abuse allegations made against him.
If this is the end of the road for Hamels, he enjoyed a decorated career. In 423 career appearances at the big-league level (all but one of them starts), he compiled a 3.43 ERA (123 ERA+) and a 3.34 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Hamels also accumulated more than 58 Wins Above Replacement, according to Baseball-Reference's calculations, while making four All-Star Game appearances and winning both a World Series and National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award for his contributions during the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies title run.
The Dodgers, who entered Tuesday with a 73-46 record on the season, will have to carry on with a rotation that includes Max Scherzer, David Price, Mitch White, and Walker Buehler. The Dodgers have been using bullpen games as needed when their schedule requires a fifth starter.
