Phillies-Rangers Hamels Deal Coming Together (Make That Happening)

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So it appears a deal sending Cole Hamels and Jake Diekman to the Texas Rangers is coming together quickly.  Right now the critical pieces are OF Nick Williams, C Jorge Alfaro, RHP Alec Asher, RHP Jake Thompson and RHP Jerad Eikoff along with the contract of Matt Harrison.  It appears there are more pieces involved so I will update as they come in.  The top 3 players likely slot in right before J.P. Crawford on the Phillies top prospect list (coming on Monday)

Nick Williams:

2015 Stats: .300/.357/.480 13 HR 10 SB 7.5% BB% 18.7% K%

Williams hits.  Before this year that was all he did.  Now he hits, hits for power, draws some walks, strikes out less, and play center field better.  He is a guy that some evaluators absolutely love, and he showed more power potential than anyone thought at the Futures Game.  He has a lot of helium right now and was rated the #21 prospect in baseball at the midseason mark by Baseball Prospectus.  Nick’s final home is probably left field, but he is a guy who could threaten .300 with 20 HRs while playing very good defense in a corner.

Jorge Alfaro:

2015 Stats: .253/.314/.432 5 HR 2 SB 4.3% BB% 29.5% K%

Alfaro has been on the Phillies’ radar for a while now.  He is an ultra athletic catcher, with an 80 arm, plus raw power, and above average speed.  His recieving has been rough, despite the athleticism, though the tools are there to be average long term.  He is out for the year with an ankle injury, but it shouldn’t affect his long term value.  He is a bit of a risk, but the bat could play at third base or in the outfield.  If Alfaro can catch, he is a first division regular or better at the position.

Jake Thompson:

87.2 IP 4.72 ERA 0.7 HR/9 3.1 BB/9 8.0 K/9

Thompson was the headliner in the deal that sent Joaquin Soria to Detroit a year ago.  He is a big right handed pitcher who will flash a plus fastball and plus slider.  The changeup has above average potential as well.  He has struggled a bit in AA, but he profiles as a #3 starter with an outside chance as a #2 if he can refine his pitches.

Alec Asher:

AA – 43.0 IP 3.98 ERA 0.6 HR/9 3.8 BB/9 9.0 K/9
AAA – 64.2 IP 4.73 ERA 2.2 HR/9 2.6 BB/9 7.5 K/9

Another big high minors RHP.  Asher has been more of innings eater and lacks a dominant pitch.  He will sit in the low-90s and will get to 95-97 with his fastball.  He is near major league ready, but there are some who think he fits better in a bullpen role going forward.

Jerad Eickhoff:

96.2 IP 4.47 ERA 1.1 HR/9 3.1 BB/9 8.4 K/9

Another big high minors RHP (sensing a trend).  Big fastball, up to 97, but more 92-95 with life.  He brings a slider, a curveball, and changeup all which flash average.  He has been a bit homer prone in the PCL, but is on the 40 man roster and could provide help down the stretch.  There is enough ceiling to be a #3 starter, but it is likely more back end starter or late inning reliever.

Matt Harrison:

Rather than pay some more money, the Phillies take back Harrison’s deal for the next two seasons.  Harrison has not been good since returning from injury but has some upside and good get some innings for the Phillies while other guys come up.

 

17 thoughts on “Phillies-Rangers Hamels Deal Coming Together (Make That Happening)”

  1. Matt ad Jerald Eickoff and Harrison we gave them Cole and Diekman. Why am I pissed no Brinson or Cordell we gave them Diekman a lefty that hits 99 mph and Cole. Never mind we also received jake Thompson, Alec Asher

  3. Missing an ace, but 2016 could end with Nola, Thompson, Eflin and Asher/Eickenhoff/Biddle/Morgan/Lively in the rotation. Add a free agent and the 2017 rotation could be promising with Kilome and Pinto on the way. That is some nice depth.

    2017 could also begin with a lineup like this
    C-Alfaro (top 100 prospect)
    1B – ??
    2B – ??
    3B – Franco (former top 100 prospect)
    SS – Crawford (top 100 prospect)
    LF – Williams (top 100 prospect)
    CF – Quinn/Tocci
    RF – Altheer

    Reason to be excited.

  4. I do like the strategy of throwing numbers at it. With so many ‘can’t miss’ prospects missing badly I tend to think getting as many as possible reduces risk but also might reduce upside. The Phillies have so many holes this trade makes sense.

    • There is no cap in baseball, and you can Google their payroll yourself.

      And I don’t see the sense in saying they “need” to spend money. They CAN, if its the right players, but signing big contracts just because you can is shortsighted.

  7. Matt, I’d love to know your thoughts on the trade in the context of the Price trade. Does the Phils trade still look as good despite seeing now that the Tigers got three prospects, including the elusive blue chip prospect, and did not have to kick in any money.

    • I don’t think Norris is a much better prospect than anyone Phillies got, I might take Williams over him, other two pieces are good but below what Phillies got

  8. I’d feel a lot better about this if Alfaro was either not hurt or a lock to be at least average behind the plate. Without that it comes down to what the team does with the approximately $70 million they’ll be under the luxury tax threshold this winter. If they’re filling in the gaps with cost-controlled players and reaching via free agency for elite players, it makes sense as the quickest plan to be respectable again.

    • Screw respectable. I want a contender, even though building one will take a couple years. Getting too aggressive in FA right away just blocks the path of the young guys you need to find out about. One OF, one SP, and no more.

      • I wouldn’t worry about blocking the young guys too much. Apparently, you can trade a grab bag for an elite player…

  10. Matt- You provided a nice write up here and in the Revere article, plus contributed some reassuring tweets, but Phillies fans need you to write a comprehensive post-trade deadline analysis for the system.

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