Section 215
Fansided

Phillies Trade Cole Hamels to Rangers

By Tim Kelly

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After a furious hour of reports suggesting that the Philadelphia Phillies were close to trading Cole Hamels to the Texas Rangers, the deal has been completed.

Hamels could block trades to 21 teams as part of his partial no-trade clause, but the Rangers were not one of those teams. That meant that his 2019 option for $20 million remains just an option, and he couldn’t force it to be picked up in order to accept a trade.

According to FOX’s Jon Morosi, this is at least part of the return that the Phillies will get for Hamels.

Matt Harrison, who hasn’t been effective since 2012, will also come to Philadelphia in the deal. He is owed 28 million dollars through 2018, and it’s unclear if the Phillies will pay that or if part of the money they are sending to the Rangers will be to off-set the Rangers continuing to pay him.

Jake Diekman, who has struggled since a breakout 2013 season, will also be dealt to the Rangers.

Diekman has great stuff, but has struggled mightily with his location. He’s the kind of piece that is a good pickup for the Rangers because he might benefit from a change of scenery, though he isn’t someone that the team couldn’t give away either.

The Phillies were unable to pry top outfielding prospect Nomar Mazara from the Texas organization, but are by no means coming out of the trade empty-handed. They acquired several young players that will immediately find themselves towards the top of the Phillies prospects rankings. Here is the group and some information about them, courtesy of MLBPipeline.com

"Jake Thompson-(RHP;4th ranked prospect in Rangers system)Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 65 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55Scouts liked Thompson as a power-hitting first baseman when he was coming out of a high school in 2012, but they realized his ceiling was higher on the mound and the Tigers made him their top pick (second round). He sped to Double-A last July at age 20, then went to the Rangers along with Corey Knebel in a trade for Joakim Soria. Thompson’s stuff picked up after the deal and he now rates as Texas’ best starting pitching prospect.Thompson usually throws his fastball at 90-93 mph, peaking at 95 and featuring sinking life. That’s not even his best weapon, however, as that distinction belongs to a slider that can reach 87 mph with depth and qualify as a true wipeout pitch at times. He also uses a curveball and changeup, both of which show flashes of becoming solid-or-better offerings.Thompson has a classic starter’s build that should give him durability and allows him to pitch on a tough downhill plane. He throws a decent amount of strikes but still is refining his command. He’s a good bet to become a No. 3 starter and has a chance to become a No. 2.Jorge Alfaro-(Catcher; 6th ranked prospect in Rangers system)Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Run: 45 | Arm: 70 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55Since signing for a $1.3 million bonus — a record for a Colombian player — in January 2010, Alfaro advanced rapidly to Double-A. He has the best combination of raw power and pure arm strength among Minor League catchers, though he’s still polishing those tools and the other aspects of his game. Unfortunately for him, his 2015 season was put on hold when he underwent surgery on his left ankle in June.Similarly, he has a cannon arm and good athleticism for a catcher but needs a lot of refinement behind the plate. He threw out just 28 percent of basestealers and committed 23 passed balls in 90 games in 2014. Though the Rangers have experimented with Alfaro at first base and in the outfield, they’re not giving up on the idea that he can become an All-Star catcher.Nick Williams (Outfielder; 5th ranked prospect in Rangers System)Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55On pure ability, Williams could have been a first-round pick in the 2012 Draft. But he had an enigmatic high school career, allowing the Rangers to sign him in the second round for a slightly below-slot $500,000. Their system features several high-ceiling position players, and he has been the most consistently productive of the bunch.Williams’ lightning-fast hands and his strength allow him to drive almost any pitch he can reach. After swinging at just about every pitch that didn’t bounce — and some that did — during his first three pro seasons, he has made impressive strides with his plate discipline in 2015. With moderate patience, he could be a force at the plate when he reaches the big leagues.Williams has solid speed, though he doesn’t always get the most out of it on the bases and in the field. He runs and throws well enough to play all three outfield positions but has spent most of his pro career in left field.Jarad Eickhoff (RHP; 17th ranked prospect in Rangers System)Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45Eickhoff’s sturdy frame and heavy sinker got him paid a $150,000 bonus as a 15th-rounder out of Olney Central (Ill.) JC in 2011. He has added velocity and made steady progress, reaching Double-A in his second full pro season and leading the Texas League with 144 strikeouts in 2014.Strong and physical, Eickhoff has a 91-95 mph fastball that touches 97. He complements it with a hard curveball that gives him a second plus pitch at times, as well as a slider that can be a solid offering. He throws strikes and uses his 6-foot-4 frame to pitch on a downhill plane.If Eickhoff can improve his changeup and command, he could be a workhorse No. 3 starter. If not, he could be a late-inning reliever whose pitches should feature more power in shorter stints.Alfaro has the strength and bat speed to drive balls out of any part of any ballpark without selling out for power, yet he’s still overly aggressive at the plate. He swings and misses frequently, and he needs to do a better job of taking pitches and recognizing breaking balls. If he figures it out, he could be an average hitter with 20-plus homers per season at Globe Life Park in Arlington.Alex Asher (RHP;29th ranked prospect in Rangers system)Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45If a post-Draft physical hadn’t revealed a bone chip in his elbow, Asher would have signed with the Giants for $80,000 as a 23rd-rouner out of high school in 2010. Instead he spent a year each at two different Florida junior colleges before turning pro as a fourth-rounder in 2012.Asher can reach 96 mph with his fastball and back it up with a hard slider at his best, but his stuff dipped somewhat in 2014. He worked mostly at 89-93 mph with an average slider. His changeup remained a reliable third pitch and he continued to use a curveball to give hitters a different look.Asher employs an easy delivery that results in some of the best control and command among Texas’ starting pitching prospects. He lacks a true plus pitch but has consistently performed and could end up as an innings-eating mid-rotation starter."

We will continue to update as more comes in.

Next: Phillies Trade Talk With SB Nation's Chris Cotillo

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