Cubs expect Hamels to deliver
Rangers swap lefty, cash for minor leaguers, Phillies add Cabrera
The Chicago Cubs are gambling that a change of scenery and a pennant race will help Cole Hamels return to form.
The Cubs acquired the veteran left-hander and cash from the Texas Rangers on Friday for right-hander Eddie Butler, minor-league pitcher Rollie Lacy and a player to be named.
As part of the deal, Texas will send Chicago $2,862,903 (all dollars U.S.) 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 also 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 is an experienced playoff performer with a history of success at Wrigley Field. He was the National League Championship Series and World Series MVP when Philadelphia won the title in 2008, and 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 first-place team, there’s something inside of you that sparks when you get in those situations,” Hamels said after the trade was announced. In other Friday deals: The Phillies picked up infielder Asdrubal Cabrera from the New York Mets for Double-A Reading right-hander Franklyn Kilome, their No. 10 prospect. The switch-hitting Cabrera is batting .277 with 18 home runs, 58 RBIs and an .817 OPS.
The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired switch-hitting infielder Eduardo Escobar from the Minnesota Twins for minorleague right-hander Jhoan Duran plus outfield prospects Ga- briel Maciel and Ernie De La Trinidad. The 29-year-old Escobar, who leads the majors in doubles with 37, has hit .274 with 15 home runs and 63 RBIs this season.
The Seattle Mariners acquired right-handed reliever Sam Tuivailala (3-3, 3.69 ERA in 31 games) from the St. Louis Cardinals for minor-league pitcher Seth Elledge.
The Braves traded $250,000 in international signing bonus pool cash to the Tampa Bay Rays for reliever Jonny Venters, who started his career in Atlanta and was an all-star in 2011 before a string of elbow injuries.
Hamels, who had been scheduled to start for Texas on Saturday in Houston, said he wasn’t sure yet when he would make his first start for Chicago.
“I think teams know he’s better than he’s pitched recently. We certainly know that,” said Rangers general manager Jon Daniels, adding the Cubs were one of four teams in the mix. Cubs manager Joe Maddon was in Tampa Bay’s dugout when Hamels led the Phillies past the Rays for the championship 10 years ago.
“He’s been pretty good. I’ve not liked him for a long time,” Maddon cracked.