Cubs swing deal with Rangers for veteran Hamels

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are gambling a change of scenery and a pennant race will help Cole Hamels return to form.

The Cubs acquired the veteran left-hander from the Texas Rangers on Friday for righthander Eddie Butler, minor league pitcher Rollie Lacy and a player to be named. The Cubs are responsible for paying Hamels $5 million US.

As part of the deal, Texas will send Chicago $2,862,903 to cover a portion of the $7,862,903 remaining in Hamels’ $22.5-million US salary this year. If the Cubs decline his $19-million option for 2019 and pay a $6-million buyout, the Rangers would pay the Cubs an additional $6 million.

Hamels is in the midst of perhaps the worst year of his career, going 5-9 with a 4.72 ERA in 20 starts with last-place Texas. He is just 1-3 with an 11.12 ERA in four starts in July.

But the 34-year-old Hamels is an experienced playoff pitcher with a history of success at Wrigley Field. He was the NL Championship Series and World Series MVP when Philadelphia won the title in 2008. He is 7-6 with a 3.48 ERA in 16 career post-season starts.

“To be able to change kind of the mindset, now to go on a firstplace team, there’s something inside of you that sparks when you get in those situations,” Hamels said at the Rangers ballpark after the trade.

Hamels, who had been scheduled to start for Texas today in Houston, will instead travel to join the Cubs for the rest of their series in St. Louis.