More than two decades later, Cole Hamels might just get another chance to play his home games in San Diego.

The Padres and the four-time All-Star left-hander have agreed to a Minor League deal, sources told MLB.com on Thursday. The club has not confirmed the deal.

? Preller confident in roster

Hamels, a San Diego native who played at Rancho Bernardo High School before he was selected by the Phillies in the first round of the 2002 Draft, has not pitched in the Majors since 2020. At 39, he¡¯s looking to make a comeback following surgeries on his left shoulder, right knee and left foot within the past two years.

Hamels made one start for the Braves in September 2020 before shutting it down with multiple injuries. He signed with the Dodgers in August 2021 but was shut down shortly thereafter due to left shoulder issues and did not appear in a game at any level. In his last full season, Hamels posted a 3.81 ERA across 27 starts for the 2019 Cubs.

Hamels, who is 163-122 with a 3.43 ERA in 15 seasons, has pitched the majority of his career for the Phillies, with whom he earned a World Series ring in 2008. He finished in the top eight in National League Cy Young Award voting four times, all with Philly. His finest hour came during the 2008 postseason, when he went 4-0 in five starts with a 1.80 ERA and earned MVP honors in both the NLCS and World Series. The Phillies prevailed over the Rays in the Fall Classic that year.

In San Diego, Hamels will be yet another organizational depth option, with the team¡¯s six-man rotation already in place following the arrival of Michael Wacha. Hamels will join a group of non-roster invitees that also features veteran right-handers Julio Teheran and Wilmer Font. Jay Groome, Reiss Knehr and Ryan Weathers are among the Padres¡¯ depth options on the 40-man roster.