Nick Piccone
#Phillies very close to deal sending Cole Hamels to #Rangers, sources say
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 30, 2015
According to Jayson Stark, the Phillies and Rangers are close on a deal involving Cole Hamels. Earlier today, the Rangers became the frontrunners to land the lefty.
Jim Salisbury saying the deal is all but done.
Multiple sources say deal going down. Historic day. Hamels to Texas being finalized
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyNBCS) July 30, 2015
UPDATE: Jake Diekman is joining Hamels in heading to Texas. The Phillies are reportedly acquiring prospects Nick Williams (OF), Jorge Alfaro (C), Jerad Eickhoff (P) and Alec Asher (P).
Jon Morosi is reporting the Phillies are getting Matt Harrison. Who has a less-than-stellar ERA. Cool.
Matt Harrison goes to #Phillies in deal, source confirms.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 30, 2015
Scouting reports on Williams and Alfaro provided by ScoutingBook.com.
Another raw athlete in a draft filled to the brim with such potential, Ranger prospect Nick Williams fit the cliche perfectly: great natural tools and athleticism, good speed, strong arm, very raw skills, and a swing that shows glimmers of greatness… but also one full of more holes than a beer-league infield. While his game has tightened up a lot in the last year or so, he’s still lacking some of the polish needed for the higher levels of pro ball. Give him another year or two.
The above hasn’t been updated since 2014. From everyone in the know on Twitter, Williams has seen the light and has improved tremendously this season. So, good get.
He might sound like a designer of cheap neckties, but prospective Ranger catcher Jorge Alfaro has been making a name for himself in the damp northwest rather than the fashion outlets in airport shopping malls. A big strong right-handed bat, the still-teenaged Alfaro looks likely to stick behind the plate, where he exhibits a cannon arm of increasing accuracy. His game-calling skills are a long way off, but if that .320/.430/.750 Sally League line from 2012 is a real indicator of his potential, the Rangers will be content to wait it out.
Everybody is saying he’s another Chooch. And that’s AOK with me.
FInal deal and its a doozy: Matt Harrison, Alec Asher, Jerad Eickhoff, Nick Williams, Jorge Alfaro & Jake Thompson for Hamels+Diekman+Cash.
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) July 30, 2015
Right-handed pitcher Jake Thompson is also coming to the Phillies. That’s six (!) players coming back for Hamels, Diekman, and cash.
All of this happened after Hamels reportedly rejected a trade to the Houston Astros.