Matthew Judon, the Pro Bowl pass-rusher for the New England Patriots, has successfully renegotiated his contract after holding out during training camp. The Patriots have reportedly given him a $12 million increase in guaranteed money for the 2023 season. Judon was entering the third season of a four-year, $56 million contract he signed with the team in 2021. He had been seeking a contract restructure due to his salary ranking among players in his position.
With this pay bump, Judon’s average annual income will increase to up to $18 million, up from $13.6 million, making him one of the highest-paid edge rushers in the league. The move comes after Judon’s impressive performance over the last two seasons with the Patriots, during which he recorded 28.0 sacks, 120 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles. He has also earned Pro Bowl honors in each of those seasons.
In other news, former Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels has decided to retire from professional baseball. The pitcher, who was named World Series MVP in 2008, had not played in the majors since 2020. Despite his efforts to return to the majors, Hamels spent time in the minors in 2021 and 2023 but was unable to make one final appearance in the big leagues.
Throughout his career, Hamels was known for his excellence, making four All-Star Game appearances and finishing among the top eight in National League Cy Young voting on four occasions. His finest stretch came from 2010 to 2014, during which he posted a 3.00 ERA over 1,064 2/3 innings with the Philadelphia Phillies. He later played for the Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, and Atlanta Braves, experiencing both highs and injuries during his illustrious career.
Matthew Judon has been a bargain for the Patriots. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
Matthew Judon’s hold-in was apparently a success, as the New England Patriots are giving the Pro Bowl pass-rusher a $12 million bump in guaranteed money for 2023, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Judon, who was entering the third season of the four-year, $56 million contract he signed with the Patriots in 2021, gained notice last week when he reported to training camp, but neglected to do anything beyond conditioning work. It had been known he was looking for a contract restructure, especially given where his salary ranked among players at his position.
The situation, which had drawn the attention of some former Patriots players, has apparently now been resolved. Judon had previously ranked 20th among edge rushers in average annual income at $13.6 million, per OverTheCap, but can now make up to $18 million.
The pay bump is well-deserved given that Judon has posted 28.0 sacks plus 120 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles in his two seasons with the Patriots. He has earned Pro Bowl nods each season.
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Cole Hamels was named World Series MVP after the Phillies took down the Rays in 2008. (Photo by Damian Strohmeyer /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Former Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels is calling it a career. Hamels, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2020, was placed on the voluntarily retired list by the San Diego Padres on Friday.
The move officially ends Hamels’ bid to return to the majors. While he had not appeared on a major-league mound since 2020, he spent time in the minors in 2021 and 2023 in hopes he could make one final appearance in the majors.
Shortly after reaching the majors in 2006, Hamels developed into one of the best young pitchers in baseball. He elevated his play during his second season, making the first of four All-Star Game appearances. Hamels finished sixth in National League Cy Young voting in 2007. It was the first of four times he would finish in the top eight of voting for the award.
After another strong regular season in 2008, Hamels etched himself into Philadelphia sports lore with a phenomenal postseason. He pitched in a total of five games during the team’s World Series run and gave up seven earned runs over 35 innings, good for a 1.80 ERA.
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Hamels started Games 1 and 5 in the 2008 World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays. He limited the Rays to four earned runs over 13 innings, earning the World Series MVP award.
The best was yet to come, however. Hamels experienced the finest stretch of his career from 2010 to ’14. In that period, he posted a 3.00 ERA over 1,064 2/3 innings. He struck out nearly a batter per inning and posted an ERA+ of 129, meaning his ERA was 29% better than the average pitcher at the time.
During the 2015 season, Hamels was traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange for multiple prospects. He continued to put up strong numbers in Texas before being traded to the Chicago Cubs during the 2018 season. Hamels posted a 3.81 ERA over 27 starts with Chicago in 2019 but missed a month in the middle of the season due to injuries.
He signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Braves in the offseason but sustained a shoulder injury in spring training. He made just one start with Atlanta in 2020, giving up three runs in 3 1/3 innings.
Hamels signed a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021, but injuries prevented him from appearing in the majors. He reemerged in 2023, signing a minor-league deal with the Padres, but failed to make it back to the majors.
He finishes his career with a 163-122 record.