Weigh In: Cole Hamels' 6-Year, $144M Deal

The Phillies are keeping their guy.

Pitcher Cole Hamels has inked a six-year contract extension worth $144 million just days before the trade deadline, putting to bed rumors that the Phils wouldn't keep the 28-year-old ace.

With the Phillies going 7-4 since the All-Star break, it seems as if the front office wants to keep its core players in place and make a run for the playoffs in the second half of the season.

Can it happen? (Vote in our poll below.)

Hamels' deal, which gained exposure on Twitter in the middle of the night and was official this morning, is the second-largest ever signed by a starting pitcher.

(Yankees lefty CC Sabathia signed a seven-year, $161-million contract in 2008.)

The Hamels extension keeps the 2008 World Series MVP until the 2018 season and includes an option for 2019.

Now, the rumors turn to Phillies' outfielders Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence, and pitcher Cliff Lee. The trade deadline is July 31.

Going into Wednesday's game, the Phillies are 44-54 and 9.5 games out of the Wild Card spot. However, the team is showing signs of late-innings life as they've won the last three games in come-from-behind fashion, something the team has been unable to do all year.

Do you think keeping Hamels was the right choice? Should the Phightin's be buyers or sellers before the trade deadline? Do they have a chance this year?