Phillies package Hamels with Jake Diekman and also send Ben Revere to Toronto in another farm system improvement effort
THE DEAL(S): The Phillies sent left-handed starting pitcher and 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels and lefty reliever Jake Diekman to the Texas Rangers. In return, the Rangers send the Phillies a handful of prospects; catcher Jorge Alfaro, outfielder Nick Williams, right-handed pitchers Jake Thompson, Alec Asher and Jerad Eickhoff as well as veteran lefty Matt Harrison.
Shortly after the Hamels and Diekman trade was made official, the Phillies traded outfielder Ben Revere to the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto returned right-handed reliever prospect Jimmy Cordero and reliever Alberto Tirado.
WHAT NOW: The rebuilding begins. A total of seven prospects are now added to the farm system (on top of the reliever added in the previous Jonathan Papelbon trade to Washington; Nick Pivetta), and that was desperately needed by the Phillies after shipping off young players in previous deals to acquire players like Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Hunter Pence and Roy Oswalt. The trades clearly have no impact on the team’s success this season on the field, but this team was not ready to make a playoff run anyway even with the hot play lately. If nothing else, the future of the Phillies is now given a chance to blossom and develop for the long-term success of the organization without the cloud hanging above the team.
With Hamels gone, the Phillies starting rotation includes veterans Jerome Williams and Aaron Harang. Recent call-up Aaron Nola should be expected to stay in Philadelphia for the remainder of the season after two impressive starts to begin his young major league career. The Phillies called up David Buchanan to fill a spot on the mound Friday night, and he may very well stick with the team the rest of the season as well. Adam Morgan will also be in the rotation after starting six games since being called up in mid-June. Chad Billingsley is currently on the disable list with a right flexor strain. And yes, Cliff Lee is still on the disabled list. The chances we see him again are probably growing slimmer by the week, and they may not have been very good in the first place.
But if you keep tabs on the minor leagues, fans should be able to get a good glimpse of many of these players the rest of the summer at Reading or Lehigh Valley etc.
WHAT’S NEXT: With the trade deadline passed, all eyes can now move forward to the waiver deadline. There may still be a chance a player like Chase Utley could be moved, even with his injury issues this season. The return likely will not be great given Utley’s age and health, but it seems to be reasonable enough to suspect he could be on his way out soon. Any other movement might be pretty minor at this point.
The rebuild is upon us. Embrace it now and enjoy the ride as the Phillies now hope to grow with a new nucleus of young players.
Follow Macho Row on Twitter. Like Macho Row on Facebook.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
