Just one day after parting ways with closer Jonathan Papelbon, the Phillies have agreed to send ace left-hander Cole Hamels, reliever Jake Diekman and $9.5 million to the Rangers in exchange for Texas top prospects Jake Thompson (RHP), Jorge Alfaro (C) and Nick Williams (OF) along with minor league pitchers Alec Asher, Jerad Eickoff and Matt Harrison.
FInal deal and its a doozy: Matt Harrison, Alec Asher, Jerad Eickhoff, Nick Williams, Jorge Alfaro & Jake Thompson for Hamels+Diekman+Cash.
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) July 30, 2015
Earlier on Wednesday, reports surfaced that the Phillies and Rangers were nowhere close to a deal, but that changed in less than five hours. Selected in the first round of the 2002 draft, Hamels has earned plenty of accolades as a member of the Phillies, most notably the Most Valuable Player of the 2008 World Series. Hamels departs the Philadelphia Phillies just days after tossing a no-hitter, striking out 13 Cubs in the process. He ranks third on the Phillies all-time strikeout list behind Robin Roberts and Steve Carlton.
Left-hander Jake Diekman is also headed to the Rangers in the deal. The 28-year-old reliever went 2-1 with a 5.15 ERA with the Phillies this season, struggling with strike zone command. A change of scenery could be good for Diekman, who still has the potential to be a nice bullpen arm for the Rangers.
The Phillies prospect haul in this deal includes three of Texas' top five prospects in right-hander Jake Thompson, outfielder Nick Williams and catcher Jorge Alfaro.
Righty Jake Thompson, ranked as the Rangers third best prospect by Baseball America, was selected in the second round of the 2012 draft by the Tigers. This season in Double-A, he's sporting a 6-6 record with a 4.72 ERA. Thompson comes in ranked at 49th on Baseball America's midseason top 50 prospects list. Last season, he went 10-5 with a 3.12 ERA between Advanced 'A' and Double-A ball.
Outfielder Nick Williams, possibly the best offensive part of the deal, was selected in the second round of the 2012 draft by the Rangers. This season in Double-A, the 22-year-old Williams is hitting .300 with 13 home runs and 45 RBI's. Over 351 minor league games, Williams has a strong .294 average. Williams is ranked as the Rangers fourth best prospect in Baseball America's midseason rankings.
Jorge Alfaro, 22, comes in as the Rangers fifth best prospect on Baseball America's midseason list and has played in Double-A all season, averaging .253 with five homers and 21 RBI's. He's caught 28% of base stealers behind the plate. Alfaro has a big arm for a catcher and has a lot of power, but has a long way to go in terms of plate discipline.
25-year-old right-hander Jerad Eickhoff is another arm coming to the Phillies from texas. Between Double-A and Triple-A this season, Eickhoff is 9-4 with a 4.30 ERA. He was the Rangers 15th round pick from 2011.
Alex Asher, 23, is a fourth round pick from 2012, has spent time between Double-A and Triple-A this season, posting a combined 4-10 record to go along with a 4.43 ERA.
Matt Harrison, 29, was a 2003 third round pick of the Braves. This season between Double-A and Triple-A, he's 1-3 with 6.23 ERA in 34 2/3 innings. He's made three starts for the Rangers this season, posting a 6.75 ERA in 16 innings.
Seeing Cole Hamels leave Philadelphia is definitely a sad site, but the Phillies got themselves a hell of a return from the Rangers, setting themselves up with some great young potential heading into the future.
