The Texas Rangers are one of a few teams in the sweepstakes for Cole Hammels as the MLB Trade Deadline nears.
There won’t be a better time to land Hamels because he’s coming off his first career no-hitter on Saturday when he shut down the Chicago Cubs. The left-hander is now 6-7 on the season with a 3.64 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a 137/39 K/BB ratio through 128 2/3 innings.
It hasn’t been his best season but he’s been one of the top lefties in MLB over the last 10 years. The Rangers have the prospects to take the gamble on Hamels while they are at 47-50 on the season and 4 1/2 games out of the second wild card spot in the American League. Catcher Jorge Alfaro and prospect Nomar Mazara ranks 34th and 42nd overall for prospects, according to MLB.com. Those two Rangers prospects could be the names to land in Philadelphia come the July 31 trade deadline.
Hamels has $22.5 annually on his contract through 2018 with a $6 million buyout on a $20 million club option for 2019.