Rangers get Cole Hamels, reliever from Phillies for group of 6 pros

So they are obvious sellers as the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline approaches. He threw a no-hitter against the Chicago Cubs his last time out.

Hamels has approved a trade to Texas.

The Philadelphia Phillies finally kicked a long-awaited rebuild into high gear, agreeing to trade Cole Hamels to the Texas Rangers for a package of prospects, according to a baseball official with direct knowledge of the trade.

Diekman, 28, also going to Rangers in the trade, was an above average reliever for the Phillies coming into the 2015 season, but has had multiple issues this year, carrying a 5.15 ERA in 36.2 innings pitched.

Sullivan reported that the Rangers were set to send Jerad Eickhoff and catcher Jorge Alfaro to the Phillies. ESPN is reporting the Phillies want team’s best offers for Hamels by today.

Hamels, on the other hand, has been battling through trade rumors to become one of the more solid pitchers in the National League this season, despite playing for the league’s worst team. Cueto is off the market and that could push things for the Phillies, especially if someone like David Price or Mike Leake goes next. Hamels has an option for the 2019 season and he also has a no-trade clause that has 20 teams on it, including the Diamondbacks.

This will be the first time in a few years that Hamels will be playing for a team that has a shot at the postseason even though the Rangers may just be building for the future with this deal. The Rangers are considered in the lead for Hamels, but Jon Morosi of Fox Sports reports that “no deal is close” as of Monday night. Both players made it clear they wanted to play for contenders. Hamels, who finished 6th in the NL Cy Young Award voting last year, is 6-7 with a 3.64 ERA and a 9.6 SO/9 ratio this season.