Cole Hamels will not be pitching on Opening Day for the Philadelphia Phillies but the team does not expect to without the left hander for too long.
Hamels, 30, is expected to join the Phillies rotation in April after he experienced soreness in his throwing shoulder in November.
“We’re not trying to hide anything,” general manager Ruben Amaro said, via the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Everyone thinks we’re trying to hide things. The fact of the matter is we just want to be cautious with the guy. He’s too important to us for us not to be cautious now.”
The Phillies added AJ. Burnett on Wednesday on a one-year deal worth $16 million.
Hamels finished the 2013 season with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP with a 202/50 K/BB ratio in 220 innings of work.
