Hamels to make Rangers debut Saturday

Both people spoke to The Associated Press late Wednesday night, July 29, 2015, on condition of anonymity because the trade has not been finalized. Others included the Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros, and on Sunday it was noted by Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal that the Rangers were the favorites to land Hamels.

Instead, he was informed that he had been traded to the Phillies in a six-player package that brought back left-hander Cole Hamels and lefty reliever Jake Diekman.

With Philadelphia mired in a miserable season and its future potentially bleak, Hamels prepared himself for a trade that involved eight players and was officially completed Friday. “They have a lot of great players and there’s always a chance in that league”.

“I was here for a long time and every year they’re putting somebody on that Wall of Fame; Steve Carlton, Mike Schmidt, and you just never think that you’re in the same group as these guys”, said Burrell… who wasn’t.

Hamels, the 2008 World Series MVP, is the first pitcher in major league history traded during a season immediately after throwing a no-hitter – he no-hit the Chicago Cubs last Saturday at Wrigley Field.

The Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants face off on Saturday in Arlington for game two of their Major League Baseball series. Tirado, just 20, was a starter converted to reliever this season.

Philadelphia got Double-A catcher Jorge Alfaro, outfielder Nick Williams and right-hander Jake Thompson – three of the Rangers’ top prospects – and Triple-A right-handers Jerad Eickhoff and Alec Asher.

“We’re excited and I love the fact that we were in a position to do some things and be this close”, Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos said.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – After years of trade speculation, Cole Hamels’ time in Philadelphia is ending.

“You don’t want to say no to anybody and you don’t want to let a city down or an organization down but you want to do what’s best not just for my baseball career, but for my family”, Hamels said. “It’s just one of those things that you got to realize, realize that they’re going out and trying to help our team get better”.

Texas is seven games behind AL West-leading Houston and four games behind Minnesota for the AL’s second wild-card spot. Left-hander Derek Holland, who pitched only one inning the April 10 home opener, on Thursday began his minor league injury rehab from a strained shoulder.

Hamels is, of course, someone whose reputation – despite pitching his entire career in the National League – precedes him, but in a positive way.

The rebuilding Phillies (39-64), with the majors’ worst record, already traded All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon to Washington on Tuesday.

Roughly 30 hours removed from the initial trade announcement, we see many differing opinions on the trade. “Being able to play was anything and everything that anyone could ever ask for”.

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. He’s owed $25 million this year and next, and the team has a $23 million option for 2017 with a $10 million buyout. First, though, he would fight summertime traffic and bump into Citizens Bank Park to show that a no-hitter was not the only way make an impressive exit. He made every game, inning and pitch count.

Darvish, 28, is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in March. In his two previous starts, he allowed nearly 15 earned runs in over six innings, but in his first 18 starts, his ERA was at 2.80 prior to Friday. After four starts in 2014, he was diagnosed with significant nerve irritation and a forward displacement of his vertebrae, known risks after the earlier procedures.

Cespedes, eligible for free agency after the season, hit.

Williams and Thompson, both 21, were second-round draft picks in 2012. 302 with 13 homers and 45 RBIs through 97 Frisco games.

Philadelphia will pay Texas in 12 semimonthly installments from April through September in 2016 and 2018.