Phillies agree to trade Cole Hamels to Texas

Texas Rangers rumors: Cole Hamels and Yovani Gallardo have been the subject of trade rumors involving the Rangers for some time, with the Rangers potentially looking at acquiring Hamels and, separately, trading Gallardo. TR Sullivan of MLB.com had first reported that the two sides were very close on ironing out a deal.

In addition to Harrison, the Phillies reportedly will get catcher Jorge Alfaro, outfielder Nick Williams and right-handed pitchers Jake Thompson, Alec Asher and Jerad Eickhoff. Expect everything to be finalized and officially announced on Thursday.

It’s hard to blame Philadelphia for doing so, as the team is in last place in the National League Eastern Division and in the midst of a rebuild.

Hamels, 31, has spent his entire career with the Phillies, making his major league debut in 2006.

Which brings the conversation to the young talent that Philadelphia got in return for its ace. Of that group, Williams (ranked the 21st prospect in baseball by Baseball Prospectus), Alfaro (ranked 34th by BP) and Thompson are the headliners. Moreover, he gives Phillies fans an option behind the plate once 36-year-old veteran Carlos Ruiz eventually retires. 261 with 52 home runs and 249 RBI. 253 with five home runs in 49 games before getting hurt.

The Rangers acquire a pitcher they’ve long desired in Hamels. In 17 appearances (16 starts) with Triple-A Round Rock this season, he is 8-4 with a 4.47 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 90 strikeouts in 96.2 innings.

A 6-foot-4 right-hander who was taken in the fourth round of the 2012 draft, Asher is now at Triple-A, where he boasts a 4.73 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. Harrison is in his eighth year with Texas, and just made an incredible comeback following spinal fusion surgery. He’s owed $25 million this year and next, and the team has a $23 million option for 2017 with a $10 million buyout.