Both people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was not finalized.
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Cole Hamels has the potential to help the Texas Rangers for several years, but his focus is on the present.
With Cole Hamels, the Texas Rangers have gotten another ace in hopes of getting back to the playoffs – in 2015 and beyond.
PHILADELPHIA >> Cole Hamels’ prolonged and theatrical farewell to the Phillies was expected to be completed Thursday, as reports in Philadelphia and Texas have him going to the Rangers in an historic, eight-player trade with the soon-to-be former Phillies ace as a centerpiece. Texas also gets left-handed reliever Jake Diekman and cash. According to ESPN, one of the scouts watching Saturday’s no-hitter said there is no doubt that Hamels is still one of the best starters in baseball, and that “he’s a difference-maker for somebody”.
“They’re guys we think are going to impact our club hopefully in the near future”, said Amaro, who had been very familiar with the Rangers system since the teams had been in discussions for months, or years if you include Texas’ past interest in Cliff Lee.
In his last start as a Philly, Hamels threw a no-hitter against the Chicago Cubs, giving up just two walks while striking out 13 batters. As Delino DeShields popped out to end the fourth inning, San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner was apparently upset because DeShields flipped his bat. Hamels is 6-7 with a 3.64 ERA in 20 starts this season. “This is one of the ways we can use our economic muscle to buy talent”, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. During his farewell to Philadelphia news conference this afternoon, he said he vetoed a deal to Houston.
“I got the extra tire put on and the guy was like ‘Where are you headed?'” Price said. 500 and in third place in the American League West (though four games back of the second wild card in the AL). Hamels’ role in the rotation varied during that stretch, but regardless of whether he was pitching as the Phillies’ ace or number-four starter, opposing lineups feared him.
The 31-year-old Hamels had spent his entire career with the Phillies, who drafted him with the 17th overall pick in 2002.
Trading Marlon Byrd, Antonio Bastardo and Jimmy Rollins during the offseason marked the beginning of the rebuilding process in Philadelphia, but this week the Phillies took a giant leap forward. Hamels has a postseason ERA of 3.09 and a postseason record of 7-4.
“You don’t want to say no to anybody and you don’t want to let a city down or an organization down”, Hamels said. “You are able to hear the cheers and you understand the boos”.
In addition to taking the oft-injured Harrison and his contract ($28 million after this year), the Phillies sent an additional $9.5 million to the Rangers.
Burrell profusely thanked the Phillies, their fans, all his old friends… many restaurant and bar owners… Both players made it clear they wanted to play for contenders.
Jepsen was 2-5 with a 2.81 ERA in 46 games this season for Rays.
All told from the trades this week, the Phillies received eight minor leaguers – six pitchers, an outfielder and a catcher – and one major league pitcher.
The 29-year-old Harrison, a 2012 All-Star, has made three starts this season after having spinal fusion surgery last summer. Option year vests at $24 million if Hamels pitches 400 innings in 2017-18, with stipulation of 200 innings in 2018 and finishing season not on disabled list because of elbow or shoulder injury.
This story has been corrected to show that the Blue Jays started Friday six games back of the Yankees in the AL East, not two games. Teams are unwilling to embrace a little risk because they’re really looking for the chance to keep an elite talent under their control for a long period of time before hitting free agency. 253 with five home runs and 21 RBIs through 49 games.
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Philadelphia will pay Texas in 12 semimonthly installments from April through September in 2016 and 2018.
