Phillies Finalize a Deal to Send Cole Hamels to Texas Rangers

Cole Hamels tenure in Philadelphia is over, he is heading to Texas to play for the Rangers.

The 2008 National League Championship MVP and World Series MVP is coming off his first ever no-hitter and now is in the middle of the American League playoff race.

According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News the Phillies will acquire Matt Harrison, Alec Asher, Jerad Eickhoff, Nick Williams, Jorge Alfaro and Jake Thompson in exchange for Cole Hamels and Jake Diekman.

Alfaro, Williams and Thompson are the three best prospects in the deal, and represent a nice return package for the Phillies. They are the Rangers’ No. 3, 4 and 5 prospects, according to Baseball America midseason rankings.

The 22-year-old Alfaro was hitting .253 with five homers and 21 RBI at Double-A Frisco and is considered the Rangers top catching prospect - something the Phillies really needed with Carlos Ruiz getting older and Tommy Joseph moving to first base.