Cubs acquire Cole Hamels from Rangers

Three years and one day after Cole Hamels no-hit them, breaking their record of 7,920 games without being no-hit, Hamels is now a member of the Chicago Cubs:

Hamels has about $8 million left on his contract for this year, and a $20 million team option with a $6 million buyout for 2019. (He also has a vesting option for 2019 that won’t vest because he won’t throw enough innings this year to do it.) So the Cubs are on the hook for about $14 million for Hamels, and the $8 million likely puts them very close to the luxury-tax limit of $197 million for 2018.

Hamels, who will turn 35 in December, has a 4.72 ERA and 1.373 WHIP in 20 starts with the Rangers this year. That doesn’t look good, but Globe Life Park has been an extreme hitters’ park this year. Hamels, home vs. road:

Home: 6.41 ERA, 1.508 WHIP in 10 starts, 59 innings, 16 home runs allowed
Away: 2.93 ERA, 1.226 WHIP in nine starts, 55⅓ innings, seven home runs allowed

That’s a pretty extreme home/road split, and the Cubs obviously hope Hamels’ road numbers will translate over to pitching in Wrigley Field and against National League opponents.

There’s been no official confirmation from either the Cubs or Rangers, but you’ll note in Patrick Mooney’s tweet that Rollie Lacy was scratched from a start at Myrtle Beach tonight, so it’s possible he’ll be included in this deal.

This deal will give the Cubs three lefthanded starters.

We’ll obviously have much more on this trade Friday. Hamels last pitched July 23 (Monday), so he could be available to start as early as Saturday, if the Cubs want to change around probable starters already listed for the Cardinals series (Jose Quintana is currently scheduled Saturday and Kyle Hendricks Sunday).

Welcome to the Cubs, Cole Hamels. You don’t have to throw a no-hitter... just give us two months’ worth of solid pitching, and some postseason, too.

A reminder that someone will have to be taken off the 40-man roster when Hamels is added, as the 40-man is currently full.

UPDATE: Here are more details on exactly what will be included in this trade.