UPDATE, 6:10 p.m. ET:
Cole Hamels' record contract won't last long. San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum asked for a record $21.5 million in salary arbitration. The club has offered him $17 million.
Both figures will top Hamels' current record of $15 million.
EARLIER:
Philadelphia Phillies starter Cole Hamels won't be a free agent until November, but found a way Tuesday to still hit the jackpot.
Hamels agreed to a one-year, $15 million contract, the highest salary ever paid to an arbitration-eligible pitcher before free agency. The previous record was Carlos Zambrano's $12.4 million contract in 2007 with the Chicago Cubs.
"We thought about just going for it, and filing for a number [of about $17 million],'' said John Boggs, Hamels agent, "but we thought this was fair. Our sights are now set on free agency. At some point, we'll talk to the Phillies about that.''
Hamels' record deal Tuesday is expected to last as short as a few hours, and certainly no more than a few weeks.
San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum, a two-time Cy Young winner, also filed for salary arbitration. He is expected to eclipse $20 million, after earning $13 million last year. Lincecum and Hall of Famer Tom Seaver are the only pitchers in baseball history who have thrown at least 1,000 innings, struck out 1,100 batters and have an ERA below 3.00 in their first five major league seasons.
Hamels, who signed a three-year, $20.5 million contract in 2009 after winning the World Series MVP award, but made sure to keep his final year of salary arbitration, will have his contract super-sized once this season concludes.
"This worked out just like we hoped,'' Boggs said. "When we did that three-year deal, what we didn't want to do was mortgage his future.''
The Phillies had preliminary talks about signing Hamels to a long-term contract last summer, but Hamels isn't about to sign the same five-year, $85 million deal that Los Angeles Angels ace Jered Weaver received last summer. It was perceived as a huge hometown discount, with agents believing he might have left $50 million on the table to stay home.
Hamels loves Philadelphia, but he could be line for a deal in the same ballpark of CC Sabathia's original seven-year, $161 million contract with the Yankees. Certainly, he should join Sabathia, teammates Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay, and Mets starter Johan Santana in the $20 million annual salary club. Hamels, 28, is the first Phillies pitcher to win at least 10 games in five consecutive years since Hall of Famer Steve Carlton in 1972-1984. He also has won a franchise-record seven postseason games.
"A free-agent agent is a hell of a lot different than a controlled player,'' said Boggs, "who knows who's going to bid on you? Who knew the Marlins would spend the money they did this winter? Who knew the Angels would sign [Albert] Pujols?
"You're looking at a left-hander, who could be No. 1 on your staff, who's young and is proven. Who knows what he might be able to get? When you pitch in Philadelphia, you can pitch anywhere. And, he's postseason primed with a World Series MVP under his belt.
"What do you pay for somebody like that?''
Hamels headlines a free-agent pitching class that includes Matt Cain of the Giants and Zack Greinke of Milwaukee. Lincecum is a free agent after the 2013 season.
"Pitching,'' Boggs said, "is something everybody will always be clamoring for. That never changes.''