Cole Hamels is rumored to be among the suitors for the Rangers. Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
In a report broke by MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan and confirmed by CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman, the Texas Rangers were close to acquiring Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels, and it appears the deal will be finalized Wednesday night and will be announced officially early Thursday.
Sullivan reported that the Rangers were set to send Jerad Eickhoff and catcher Jorge Alfaro to the Phillies.
Hamels, who is 6-7 with a 3.64 ERA in 20 starts after throwing a no-hitter Saturday against the Chicago Cubs, is signed through 2018. He was scheduled to start Thursday, but the team pushed him back at least one day.
The 31-year-old veteran is in the third season of a six-year, $144 million contract. He is making $22.5 million this year, the same amount he will get in 2016, 2017 and 2018. The club holds a $20 million option (with a $6 million buyout) for 2019.
Eickoff, 25, is a combined 9-4 with a 4.30 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) in Double-A and Triple-A this year. He has 104 strikeouts and 36 walks in 106 2/3 innings.
Alfaro, 22, is batting .253 with a .314 on-base percentage, a .432 slugging percentage, five homers and 21 RBIs in 49 games for Double-A Frisco.
