Cubs gamble on Hamels’ turnaround with winner
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 right-hander Eddie Butler, minor league pitcher Rollie Lacy and a player to be named. The Cubs are responsible for paying Hamels $5 million.
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 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 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 postseason starts.
“To be able to change kind of the mindset, now to go on a first-place team, there’s something inside of you that sparks when you get in those situations,” Hamels said at the Rangers’ ballpark after the trade was announced.
Hamels, who had been scheduled to start for Texas on Saturday in Houston, will instead travel then to join the Cubs for the rest of their series in St. Louis. The lefty said he wasn’t sure yet when he would make his first start for Chicago.
Mariners bolster bullpen with Tuivailala.
The Seattle Mariners have bolstered their bullpen by acquiring right-handed reliever Sam Tuivailala from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for minor-league pitcher Seth Elledge. Tuivailala is 3-3 with a 3.69 ERA in 31 appearances for St. Louis this season, his second full season in the big leagues.
Phillies get INF Cabrera from Mets.
The NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies acquired infielder Asdrubal Cabrera from the New York Mets on Friday for Double-A righthander Franklyn Kilome.
Cabrera was hitting .277 with 18 home runs and 58 RBIs as the Mets’ second baseman. The 32-year-old Cabrera was a two-time AllStar shortstop for Cleveland earlier in his career.
New York saves the remaining $2,883,065 of Cabrera’s $8.25 million salary, which is assumed by the Phillies. He is eligible for free agency after the season.
D-backs acquire Escobar.
The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired switch-hitting infielder Eduardo Escobar from the Minnesota Twins on Friday for minor league right-hander Jhoan Duran and outfielders Gabriel Maciel and Ernie De La Trinidad.
The 29-year-old Escobar hit .274 with 15 home runs, 63 RBIs and a major leaguebest 37 doubles in 97 games this season, his seventh with the Twins. From Venezuela, Escobar has played third base, shortstop and second base this season.
Braves get reliever Venters from Rays. ATLANTA»
The Atlanta Braves have acquired left-handed reliever Jonny Venters from the Tampa Bay Rays for $250,000 in international signing bonus pool allocation. The Rays announced the move after Thursday night’s 4-3 win over the Orioles. Venters has pitched in 22 games this year in his first major league season since 2012. That was the last of his three years with the Braves.