Rangers get Cole Hamels from Phillies

However, the New York Yankees, the San Francisco Giants, and the Boston Red Sox are also now talking with the Phillies about a possible trade for Hamels, but none of these teams can come close to matching the offers made by Los Angeles and Texas.

So ended a four-day stretch in which three trades enabled the Phillies to dispense with their best starting pitcher (Hamels), their all-time saves leader (Jonathan Papelbon), their liveliest lefty bullpen arm (Jake Diekman)… and Gentle Ben.

Early on in Hamels’ career, Ruben Amaro believed the Phillies’ young ace’s major weakness was mental.

“He was a little shocked for sure”, said Andrus, who spoke with Harrison after Wednesday night’s game, when reports of the trade first broke.

Cole Hamels wasn’t going to leave Philadelphia without saying goodbye. Philadelphia is the “City of Brotherly Love” and we can not thank you enough for the love that you have shown our family during our time here.

“I’m not too concerned, there’s no pain like there used to be, no numbness going down my legs”. The Phillies also got veteran pitcher Matt Harrison, who had two terrific seasons in Texas before undergoing three back operations that has left his future in serious doubt. He missed the first half of the season while recovering from spinal fusion surgery performed in June 2014. He was assigned to Triple-A Colorado Springs. He is ranked No. 85 among 94 starting pitchers in the Major League Baseball. Shortstop J.P. Crawford is the top-rated player. But he knows there’s still a long way to go and there are no givens in this process. “I’ll be following him and wishing him the best the whole way”.

In their third trade leading up to today’s 4 p.m. trade deadline, the team sent Cespedes, a free agent-to-be, to the New York Mets today, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

David Kaplan, there have been talks between Philadelphia and Chicago, and if they were not convinced before that Hamels is a talented starter, then they have to be now, after getting a front-row view to a history-making event.

“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. “The best thing is to get that right and not make it worse, figure it out quickly”.

“We played a lot of ball together”, Moreland said.

Cespedes, 29, is well on his way to compiling a career year. I know a lot of us are not from Philly, and we come here and our dreams are to win a championship and win a ring.

Following a checkup from the team’s medical staff, the Phillies placed Harrison on the 15-day disabled list with lower back inflammation, further proof he was included in the deal to help the Rangers rid themselves of his contract. It’s an approach the Phillies are more willing to embrace, especially because they have proven they aren’t afraid to spend money. “This is one of the ways we can use our economic muscle to buy talent”.

“He’s pretty good. We know that, how nasty it is and all the pitches he’s got”.

Amaro indicated that he asked for the Rangers’ top two prospects, sluggers Joe Gallo and Nomar Mazara, but both were untouchable. However, he isn’t disappointed by the return and expects the acquired players to make an impact in the majors at some point.

Williams and Thompson, both 21, were second-round draft picks in 2012.

“Could we have continued to hold out for those types of players?” The beauty of that organization is that they have a lot of depth.

The busy Blue Jays have made another deal, acquiring reliever Mark Lowe from the Seattle Mariners for three minor league pitchers.

Thompson’s fastball can sit between 89-92 miles per hour and is armed with a plus slider and average changeup. Finding offense is not easy and he has a nice combination of speed and power.

Orioles: Baltimore obtained left fielder Gerardo Parra from the Milwaukee Brewers in a trade for minor league right-hander Zach Davies.

Cardinals: Minor deadline moves but filled needs for postseason push.

Harrison could blossom again in Philadelphia, where there will be no pressure to perform for a playoff contender and he continue to work on regaining his form of a few years ago.