Cole Hamels To The Chicago Cubs
Chicago fans have expected nothing but excellence out of Theo Epstein-Era Cubs teams over the last few seasons. This season is no different. The Cubs have set their focus on making a big move before July 31st at 4 p.m. Eastern which marks the MLB tradeline. Despite their best record in the National League, the 2018 Cubbies had some holes they needed to fill before the trade season ends. Thursday, they traded for Cole Hamels.
They made their first move by bolstering an already solid bullpen by trading for Texas Rangers’ Jesse Chavez. Chavez has already seen action with his new team. He has appeared in 4 games with 5 innings pitched, 1 hit allowed, no walks and seven strikeouts.
Cubs were mentioned in all the big trade news from Zach Britton, Nathan Eovaldi, and J.A. Happ. Nothing came of it.
No need to worry because something was likely to happen knowing how this Chicago ball club has functioned in recent years.
The Cole Hamels trade which first broke by the Dallas Morning News brought flashbacks (for some) to 2015 when the Cubs originally had eyes on the southpaw.
In what would be his last start as a Philadelphia Phillies’ pitcher, Hamels went out and blanked the Cubs. He pitched nine no-hit inning, allowed no runs, gave up two walks, and struck out 13 of the Northsiders. The next game, Hamels pitched as a member of the Texas Rangers.
That Hamels’ performance snapped a 7,921 game streak in which the Chicago Cubs did not fail to get a hit.
The Cubs sent Class A right-handed pitcher Rollie Lacy, another low-level pitcher and a player to be named for Hamels. The Rangers are also going to pay a substantial amount left on Hamels’ $14 million contract, according to T.R. Sullivan’s piece on MLB.com.
The PTBNL is Eddie Butler, according to the Cubs in a tweet. (Update 7:11pm 7/27/18)
https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1022878252891860992
The Cubs’ rotation has not been what the team had hope going into the season. Their two biggest pitching acquisition, Yu Darvish and Tyler Chatwood have not panned out so far. Hamels could be the piece to glue the rotation together.
Hamels’ this season:
20 games, 5–9 W/L, 4.72 ERA, 114.1 IP, 115 hits, 70 runs (60 earned), 23 home runs allowed, 42 BB, 114 strikeouts, .258 average against, and 1.37 WHIP
Not the best numbers for a mid-season addition but the team is banking on his road numbers to be beneficial during the final three months.
He’s had exactly 10 games on the road and 10 at home. His away performance is much better. He is 4–2 with a 2.93 ERA (55 IP/18 earned runs), 22 BB, and 61 strikeout. His home stats are ugly. Hamels is sporting a 1–7 ERA (59 IP/42 earned runs) with 69 hits, 16 home runs allowed, 20 walks, and 53 strikeouts at Globe Life Park. Hopefully rooting for this turns out better than fans focusing on Chatwood’s away stats.
As a player with 10 years of experience in the National, Hamels is very familiar with National League as well as the NL Central. He has pitched in 52 games, going 24–11 with a 2.72 ERA (358 IP/108 earned), 94 walks, and 343 strikeouts.
Thursday, the trade became official and Hamel said his goodbyes.
Here’s a couple final moments in Texas before embarking North.
Now is the time to win for Hamels and the Chicago Cubs.
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