Rangers

The Texas Rangers signed former Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp to a minor league contract.

Former Phillies prospect Carlos Tocci makes the Texas Rangers roster, while first baseman Tommy Joseph has been optioned to Double-A

The Texas Rangers claimed first baseman Tommy Joseph on waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillies made the biggest move of their rebuild back in 2015 when they traded starting pitcher Cole Hamels to the Texas Rangers along with reliever Jake Diekman.  In return the Phillies took back Matt Harrison's contract and prospects Nick Williams, Jorge Alfaro, Alec Asher, Jerad Eickoff and Jake Thompson...

The Phillies designated for assignment the contract of left-handed pitcher Joely Rodriguez when they added Casey Fien into the Phillies bullpen fold.  That gave the Phillies 10 days to trade, release, or reassign Rodriguez.  Had the Phillies hoped to keep Rodriguez, the team would have needed to pass Rodriguez through waivers...

The Phillies lost out on re-signing catcher A.J. Ellis, who reunited with former manager Don Mattingly in Miami.

When the Phillies traded pitchers Cole Hamels and Jake Diekman to the Texas Rangers, one player the Phillies got in return was not a prospect.  That was veteran starter Matt Harrison, who was battling injury.   Harrison pitched six innings on July 27, 2015...

One year from the blockbuster trade that sent left-handed starter Cole Hamels to the Texas Rangers, the two teams are talking again.  Less than three days from the August 1 non-waiver trade deadline, the Rangers are poised to make a big push towards the playoffs...

The MLB non-waiver trade deadline is one week from today, and teams are actively making deals.   Word broke this afternoon that the Cubs were close to acquiring relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman from the New York Yankees.  Looking for upgrades is the Texas Rangers, with whom the Phillies made the blockbuster Cole Hamels trade last season...

So the Cole Hamels era has ended in Philadelphia, but the big question is how did they make out in the deal? Ruben Amaro Jr., Pat Gillick, Andy MacPhail - who ever pulled the trigger on this massive six-for-two player deal will some day either get the credit or the blame...