MLB notebook: Cubs trade for Rangers' Hamels

[July 28, 2018]  Cole Hamels was traded to the Chicago Cubs on Friday in exchange for right-hander Eddie Butler and Class-A right-hander Rollie Lacy.

Hamels, 152-111 with a 3.43 ERA, is owed the prorated balance of the $22.5 million due in the final year of his contract this season. The deal includes a $20 million club option for 2019.

Hamels, 34, is 5-9 with a 4.72 ERA in 20 starts this season. The lefty was most recently named an All-Star in 2016. He has pitched for the Rangers since July 2015, when he was dealt to Texas from the Philadelphia Phillies just ahead of the trade deadline.

With the Phillies, Hamels was a three-time All-Star and won the National League Championship Series and World Series MVPs in 2008. His last start with Philadelphia was a no-hitter against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

--The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired infielder Eduardo Escobar from the Minnesota Twins for three minor leaguers, the teams announced. Minnesota receives right-hander Jhoan Duran and outfielders Gabriel Maciel and Ernie De La Trinidad.

The 29-year-old Escobar is batting .274 with 15 homers and 63 RBIs. He has a .514 slugging percentage and leads the majors with 37 doubles.

Escobar is on the way to surpassing last season's career highs of 21 homers and 73 RBIs. He has a .256 career average with 63 homers and 287 RBIs in 716 games with the Chicago White Sox (2011-12) and Twins.

Minnesota filled the roster opening by recalling 2017 All-Star Miguel Sano from Triple-A Rochester. Sano was demoted on June 14 after batting .203 with seven homers and 27 RBIs in 37 games. He hit .264 with 28 homers and 77 RBIs in 114 games last season before his campaign was shortened by a shin injury.

--The Philadelphia Phillies acquired infielder Asdrubal Cabrera from the New York Mets in exchange for minor league right-hander Franklyn Kilome, both teams announced.

Cabrera, 32, is in the final year of a two-year, $18.5 million contract and will be a free agent after the season.

Cabrera is batting .277 with 18 homers and 58 RBIs through 98 games. He has primarily played second base this year, but has experience at shortstop and third base, as well. Phillies shortstops J.P. Crawford (10-day) and Pedro Florimon (60-day) are both on the disabled list.

Jul 23, 2018; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cole Hamels (35) reacts during the fifth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

--The St. Louis Cardinals designated struggling right-hander Greg Holland for assignment, ending his tenure with the team less than four months after he signed.

Holland, 32, was added to be the club's closer, but lost that job early on to right-hander Bud Norris. Holland is 0-2 with a 7.92 ERA over 32 appearances this season. He blew his third save of the season on July 21, allowing three runs (one earned) and two walks in one-third of an inning against the Chicago Cubs.

Holland, a three-time All-Star with 186 career saves, tied for the National League lead with 41 saves with the Colorado Rockies in 2017. He signed a one-year, $14 million contract with the Cardinals on the eve of this season. The $14 million deal was the richest one-year deal ever for a free-agent reliever.

--The Seattle Mariners acquired right-hander Sam Tuivailala from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for minor league right-hander Seth Elledge, both teams announced.

Tuivailala, 25, is 3-3 with a 3.69 ERA in 31 games this season. He is 6-7 with a 3.65 ERA in 96 career relief appearances over the past four-plus seasons.

Elledge, 22, was 5-1 with a 1.17 ERA in 31 games for Advanced-Class A Modesto. He was a fourth-round pick in the 2017 draft.

--Field Level Media

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