Baseball Daily Dose: Rangers Snag Hamels from Phils
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On a busy Wednesday night, the Rangers stole the headlines in acquiring ace lefty Cole Hamels and lefty reliever Jake Diekman from the Phillies. The Rangers gave up quite a bit: catcher Jorge Alfaro, outfielder Nick Williams, and pitchers Jake Thompson, Alec Asher, Jerad Eickhoff, as well as established veteran hurler Matt Harrison. Harrison’s inclusion was to offset some of the money owed to Hamels.
For fantasy purposes this season, the only noteworthy change is Hamels to Texas. With the Phillies this season, he compiled a 3.64 ERA with a 137/39 K/BB ratio over 128 2/3 innings. While the ERA isn’t becoming of someone for whom “ace” is an apt identifier, he’s currently posting the highest strikeout rate since his rookie season at 25.5 percent and walking guys at a 7.3 percent clip, only one percentage point higher than his career average.
Compared to Citizens Bank Park, the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington is more pitcher-friendly. Statcorner.com gives it a left-handed/right-handed home run park factor of 95/89 compared to Philly’s 100/143. Over his career, Hamels has a perfectly even platoon split, limiting right- and left-handed hitters alike to a .675 OPS.
There isn’t anything to worry about with Hamels. He’s 31, still very much in the conversation among baseball’s elite starters, and he’s signed to a below-market value contract, earning the remainder of $23.5 million for this season, plus $23.5 million in each of the next three seasons and $20 million with a club option in 2019 or a $6 million buyout.
Meanwhile, the rebuilding Phillies infuse their minor league system, which was already on the up-and-up, with a bounty of prospects from the Rangers. No, the Rangers didn’t give up their three best prospects in 3B/OF Joey Gallo, outfielder Nomar Mazara, or pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez, but the Phillies grabbed a lot of their remaining top-10. Thompson was rated the Rangers’ fourth-best prospect by MLB Pipeline, with Williams and Alfaro grabbing #5 and #6 rankings, respectively. Eickhoff came in at #17 and Asher was #19. Globally, Thompson was #60, Williams was #64, and Alfaro was #69.
Alfaro is a particularly important piece for the Phillies because Carlos Ruiz’s career is waning and the club lacks an impact catching prospect. Alfaro still has some big flaws, particularly his pitch recognition as illustrated by his 61/9 K/BB ratio in 207 plate appearances with Double-A Frisco this year, but he has a ton of upside due to his power and a strong throwing arm.
Williams was hitting well for Frisco this year, batting .300/.357/.480 with 13 home runs and 45 RBI in 412 PA. There’s not much to dislike about him from a scouting perspective. He has the potential to be a big time fantasy performer once he’s with the Phillies in a couple of years.
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Matt Holliday Reaggravates Quad Injury
Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday appeared to reaggravate his quadriceps injury after grounding into an inning-ending double play in the bottom of the first Wednesday against the Reds. Stephen Piscotty took his place in left field to begin the second inning.
Holliday had spent five weeks on the disabled list between June 9 and July 16 with the quadriceps injury. While he was hitting for average and drawing walks, he simply had no power, mustering a .303/.417/.421 batting line leading up to his DL stint. Following his return, he hit a grand slam against the White Sox on July 21, but otherwise hit .214 (6-for-28) coming into Wednesday’s action.
Piscotty, rated baseball’s #32 overall prospect entering the 2015 season according to Baseball Prospectus, should get regular playing time in left field in Holliday’s absence. He hit .272/.366/.475 with 11 home runs and 41 RBI in 372 PA at Triple-A Memphis prior to his call-up. In 21 major league plate appearances prior to Wednesday’s game, he registered six hits (five singles) with two RBI.
With the clock ticking down to Friday’s 4 PM EST trade deadline, the Cardinals could be incentivized to make a trade for an outfielder rather than relying on the 24-year-old Piscotty to fill Holliday’s enormous shoes.
Editor’s Note: Trades are shaking up rosters across MLB. Take time to assess which matchups and lineup changes might present juicy fantasy opportunities in this RotoGrinders column “Remove Your Orange Life Jacket!“
Carlos Gomez Trade Falls Through
It was reported on Wednesday night that the Mets had acquired All-Star outfielder Carlos Gomez from the Brewers in exchange for pitcher Zack Wheeler and infielder Wilmer Flores. Despite the news, Flores remained in the game against the Padres and was shown crying on the field after having heard the news.
The deal fell because of Gomez’s hip issue, per Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Mets GM Sandy Alderson told writers after the game that “there is no trade” for Gomez and that a deal “will not transpire,” Rosenthal reported.
Wheeler, 25, posted solid numbers over two seasons for the Mets between 2013-14, compiling an aggregate 3.50 ERA with a 271/125 K/BB ratio in 285 1/3 innings. The right-hander suffered an elbow injury in March, however, and wound up going under the knife for Tommy John surgery on March 25, ending his season and putting him on track for a return midseason in 2016.
It was an upside play for the Brewers, as Gomez is signed through 2016 for a very reasonable $9 million. Gomez’s numbers this season aren’t quite where they had been in the previous two seasons, but he still put up a productive .266/.332/.429 triple-slash line with eight home runs, 43 RBI, 42 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 310 plate appearances. The Brewers still plan to trade him by the deadline.
National League Quick Hits: Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper hit two home runs on Wednesday against the Marlins to retake the National League lead at 29 … Mets first baseman Lucas Duda swatted three solo home runs in a losing effort against the Padres on Wednesday … Braves pitcher Michael Foltynewicz returned to the rotation and pitched six innings of two-run ball in a loss to the Orioles on Wednesday … The Marlins are reportedly trading pitcher Mat Latos and 1B/OF Michael Morse as part of a three-way trade involving the Dodgers and Braves, but it hasn’t been made official yet … Aaron Harang (foot) will return to the Phillies’ starting rotation on Thursday to face the Braves … Outfielder Randal Grichuk (groin) returned to the Cardinals lineup on Wednesday and went 1-for-3 … Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco left Wednesday’s game against the Twins due to discomfort in his left knee … Cubs catcher Miguel Montero (thumb) will meet with a hand specialist in Chicago on Thursday … Reds starter Mike Leake has reportedly drawn some trade interest from the Blue Jays … Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun (back) returned to the Brewers’ lineup Wednesday and went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in a loss to the Giants … Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner (leg) is expected to miss a few more games due to an infection … Giants starter Jake Peavy tossed six shutout innings to beat the Brewers on Wednesday … Diamondbacks catcher Welington Castillo homered twice on Wednesday to help defeat the Mariners … Padres outfielder Justin Upton hit his 17th home run in Wednesday’s win against the Mets … Shortstop Jose Reyes went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in his Rockies debut on Wednesday in a loss to the Cubs.
American League Quick Hits: The Yankees designated pitcher Chris Capuano for assignment on Wednesday … Orioles starter Chris Tillman pitched 8 2/3 innings of shutout baseball to beat the Braves on Wednesday … Rays starter Chris Archer struck out 11 and allowed only two unearned runs in seven innings, but lost to the Tigers on Wednesday … Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, three runs scored, and three RBI in his Blue Jays debut in a win against the Phillies on Wednesday … Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley, Jr. went 0-for-3 in a loss to the White Sox after being recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket on Wednesday … Royals outfield prospect Bubba Starling hit for the cycle on Wednesday in a win with Double-A Northwest Arkansas … Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (thumb) will take batting practice on Thursday, then will play simulated games at the Twins’ spring training complex … The White Sox placed utilityman Emilio Bonifacio on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique strain on Wednesday … Tigers starter Justin Verlander limited the Rays to one run while striking out 10 in eight innings in Wednesday’s win … Indians starter Corey Kluber pitched a complete game, holding the Royals to one run en route to a win on Wednesday… Astros infielder Jed Lowrie (thumb) will be activated from the disabled list on Thursday … Albert Pujols hit his 30th home run of the season in a loss to the Astros on Wednesday … According to reports, the Rangers remain open to the idea of trading starter Yovani Gallardo … MRI results revealed a Grade 1 abdominal strain for Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano on Wednesday … Athletics switch-pitching reliever Pat Venditte (shoulder) will work back-to-back games in his minor league rehab assignment at Triple-A Nashville on Friday and Saturday.
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