Nearly five days after tossing a no-hitter, Phillies starter Cole Hamels has been traded to the Texas Rangers, tweets Todd Zolecki.
The Rangers pitching has been abysmal. They rank 28th in ERA, 26th in BAA, and 29th in strikeouts. Hamels will immediately alleviate many of these woes, though it won’t be easy. He’s recorded three seasons recording 200+ strikeouts, is a three-time All-Star, a World Series champion, and a former league-leader in WHIP.
Also going to the Rangers is relief pitcher Jake Diekman. Diekman has been the Phillies go-to reliever since the departure of Antonio Bastardo. Diekman, 28, is a four-year MLB veteran. Over that time, he’s compiled a 3.84 ERA, 225 strikeouts, and owns a 2.37 K/BB ratio in 191 games.
In return, the Phillies continue their youth movement, receiving receive five prospects and starter Matt Harrisonn from the Rangers.
The prospects are headlined by pitcher Jake Thompson, a former second round pick. The rest of the bunch is comprised of pitcher Alec Asher, who owns a 3.84 ERA in 94 Triple-A games and has a K/BB ratio of 3.4, pitcher Jerad Eickhoff, catcher Jorge Alfaro, who drove in 87 runs between classes A+ and AA, and outfielder Nick Williams, who’s hitting .300 at Double-A Round Rock this season.
Philadelphia also gets former All-Star and 18 game winner Matt Harrison.
Hamels could be the catalyst to get the ball rolling in Arlington, and this new crop of young talent could be enough to offsett the Phillies’ old-age woes.
