Phillies trade pitcher Cole Hamels to Rangers

The Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to trade left-handed starting pitcher Cole Hamels to the Texas Rangers.

The Philadelphia Phillies traded left-handed starting pitcher Cole Hamels to the Texas Rangers, the teams announced on Friday. MLB.com’s TR Sullivan first reported the deal.

The Rangers also received lefthander Jake Diekman and cash considerations from the Phillies. In return, the Phillies received lefthander Matt Harrison and five minor-leaguers: righthanders Alec Asher, Jake Thompson and Jerad Eickhoff, catcher Jorge Alfaro​ and outfielder Nick Williams.

Among those prospects, three are listed within MLB.com’s top 30 Rangers prospects: Williams (No. 5), Alfaro (No. 6) and Asher (No. 29). 

Hamels had been the subject of many trade rumors leading up to the baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline on Friday. He also reportedly drew interest from the Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported that the Astros had put together a strong package for Hamels, but he exercised his no-trade rights to the team.

The Phillies pushed back Hamels’ scheduled Thursday start until after the deadline in the expectation of a trade.

In his last start on Saturday, Hamels threw a no-hitter against the Cubs, the first time Chicago had been no-hit since 1965.

• KEITH: Cole Hamels’s no-hitter reaffirms status as one of baseball’s best

Hamels, 31, is 6–7 this season with a 3.64 ERA and 1.181 WHIP. He has struck out 137 batters in 128 2/3 innings.

A three-time All-Star, Hamels made his major-league debut with the Phillies in 2006. Philadelphia drafted him in the first round of the 2002 draft, 17th overall, out of Rancho Bernardo High School in California.

Over his 10 seasons, Hamels is 114–90 with a 3.30 ERA, 1,844 strikeouts and 492 walks over 1,930 innings.

Earlier this week, Philadelphia traded closer Jonathan Papelbon to the Washington Nationals.