Rangers Notes: Hamels Acquired in Eight-Player Deal

Cole Hamels pitched into the eighth inning but received a no-decision in his first Texas start on Saturday.

The Rangers reeled in the biggest catch of last week’s non-waiver trade deadline when they acquired starter Cole Hamels as part of an eight-player swap with Philadelphia.

The Phillies also sent relief pitcher Jake Diekman and cash to Texas in the deal, while the Rangers’ return package included Matt Harrison and five minor-leaguers – Jorge Alfaro, Alec Asher, Jerad Eickhoff, Jake Thompson and Nick Williams.

The trade, which was agreed to on Wednesday but not finalized until Friday, came only after Hamels used his limited no-trade clause to block a potential deal with the Astros.

“I have a lot of catching up to do,” Hamels said after joining his new team Friday, “but with this group of guys I think it’s going to be pretty easy because they’re true competitors, and it’s fun to watch them on the field and know that those are guys that are going to be behind me.”

A three-time National League All-Star, Hamels posted a career record of 114-90 with a 3.30 ERA across parts of 10 seasons for the Phillies, throwing a no-hitter on July 25 against the Cubs in his final start with Philadelphia.

Making his A.L. debut in a Texas uniform two nights ago, Hamels pitched into the eighth inning and was lifted with a 7-4 lead, but Tanner Scheppers allowed three consecutive run-scoring hits as San Francisco rallied to tie the game.

After a scoreless tenth inning, Hunter Pence and Brandon Belt each connected for solo home runs in the top of the eleventh to lead the Giants to a 9-7 comeback victory.

Although the Rangers’ bullpen faltered and denied Hamels a chance at a win in his first game with Texas, manager Jeff Banister was still pleased with the results put forth by the club’s new No. 1 starter.

“Given everything involved,” Banister said, “coming off the no-hitter, the volume of pitches he threw in the no-hitter, everything swirling around the trade and the travel getting here … I really felt like he threw the ball well.”

Following Hamels in the Rangers’ revamped rotation, left-hander Martin Perez delivered the best performance of his injury-shortened season on the way to a 2-1 win in Sunday’s rubber game. He retired the first 14 batters he faced before Brandon Belt and Justin Maxwell reached, respectively, on an error and an infield single in the top of the fifth.

Perez was pulled after allowing a one-out double to Angel Pagan in the ninth, and the Texas bullpen had to work around trouble before Hunter Pence grounded into a game-ending double play.

Dyson, Wilson Added to Roster

While the trade for Hamels grabbed most of the headlines, Texas also made a pair of under-the-radar moves Friday aimed at strengthening the team’s relief pitching and catching corps.

Right-hander Sam Dyson was acquired from Miami in exchange for backstop Tomas Telis and minor-league lefty Cody Ege, and veteran catcher Bobby Wilson was picked up on a waiver claim from Tampa Bay.

Dyson, 27, was activated Saturday and made back-to-back appearances against the Giants, including a scoreless outing Sunday in which he earned his first career save. The 32-year-old Wilson, meanwhile, had two hits and caught all 11 innings in his Texas debut on Saturday.

Shoulder Strain Sends Chirinos to DL

Both of the Rangers’ Opening Day catchers are now on the disabled list after Robinson Chirinos was placed on the 15-day DL Saturday (retroactive to Friday) with a strained left shoulder.

Backup catcher Carlos Corporan has also been on the disabled list since mid-July with a sprain in his left thumb, leaving the ballclub’s pitch-calling duties to Chris Gimenez – who had his contract purchased Friday from Triple-A Round Rock – and Bobby Wilson.

In other roster moves, both Wandy Rodriguez and Ross Ohlendorf were designated for assignment by Texas over the past week, and Ohlendorf was placed on unconditional release waivers on Friday.

In the bullpen, late-inning reliever Keone Kela was optioned to Double-A Frisco Saturday in an effort to limit his workload. Kela had averaged a total of 44 innings pitched in each of the past two seasons in the minors, and he has already thrown 43 and two-thirds innings for the Rangers this year.

Rangers Notes: Texas Mulls its Options behind the Plate

All-Star catcher/first baseman Mike Napoli has averaged 27 homers and 66 runs batted in per year across the past two seasons with the Rangers.

When the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings get underway Monday in Nashville, the Texas front office will its work cut out for it with holes to fill at
catcher, in the starting rotation and in the outfield.

Free-agent catcher/first baseman Mike Napoli and his agent met with general manager Jon Daniels and other members of the Rangers front office on Wednesday, this after meeting with Red Sox officials over the weekend while drawing interest from the Mariners as well.

Predictably, neither side would comment on any potential negotiations or discussions, but Napoli saw his stock rise a bit Thursday when free-agent backstop Russell Martin agreed to a two-year contract with the Pirates.

Texas would like to keep Napoli — who split time at catcher last season with the tandem of Yorvit Torrealba and Geovany Soto — but the Rangers don’t appear willing to commit to the four-year deal he is reportedly seeking.

As for Soto, Texas must decide before 11 p.m. CST on Friday whether or not to offer him a contract for next year. Soto is arbitration-eligible after earning $4.3 million between the Cubs and Rangers in 2012.

(UPDATE: It was announced late Friday that Soto was not tendered a contract for the 2013 season, thus making him a free agent. The club also declined contracts for right-hander Jake Brigham and utility player Brandon Snyder.)

Besides Napoli, a few of the experienced catchers still available include A.J. Pierzynski, Miguel Olivo and Kelly Shoppach, as well as former Rangers like Torrealba, Matt Treanor and Rod Barajas.

The top of the free-agent market for outfielders has thinned this month as Melky Cabrera, Torii Hunter and B.J. Upton each signed with new clubs in recent weeks, leaving Josh Hamilton as the clear best remaining outfielder up for grabs.

Texas has not ruled out re-signing Hamilton, although his asking price will be substantial both in terms of years and salary. Some quality but less expensive options are still on the open market, including Michael Bourn, Angel Pagan, Cody Ross, Nick Swisher and Shane Victorino.

The Rangers’ rotation as it stands lacks an obvious top-flight starter, with Yu Darvish, Matt Harrison, Derek Holland and Alexi Ogando tentatively penciled into four of the five starting spots.

Like Hamilton in the outfield, right-hander Zack Greinke will command the most attention (and the most financial commitment) among free-agent pitchers, and Texas could also explore trade possibilities for young starters such as Clayton Kershaw or David Price.

Righty Burns Picked Up from San Diego

The Rangers on Wednesday acquired right-handed reliever Cory Burns from the Padres in exchange for a player to be named later, and he has been added to the team’s current 40-man roster.

Burns, 25, made his major-league debut for San Diego last year, allowing 11 earned runs and recording 18 strikeouts across 18 innings pitched out of the Padres’ bullpen.

Balester, Solarte Ink Minor-League Deals

Wednesday also saw right-hander Collin Balester and infielder Yangervis Solarte sign minor-league contracts with Texas that include invitations to spring training next February in Arizona.

The 25-year-old Solarte spent last season at Triple-A Round Rock, batting .288 with 28 doubles in 130 games for the Express, while Balester has seen big-league service time with Washington and Detroit.

Feldman Agrees to Contract with Cubs

Free-agent right-hander Scott Feldman was signed to a one-year deal by the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday that will pay him a base salary of $6 million with $1 million worth of incentives.

A 2003 draft pick by the Rangers, Feldman had logged 204 career appearances over parts of the last eight seasons with Texas, making 101 starts and posting a record of 39-44 in that span.