Former Rangers Ace Hamels Officially Retires from MLB

Former Texas Rangers ace Cole Hamels officially retired from baseball on Friday, as the San Diego Padres put him on the voluntary retired list.

Hamels — who pitched for the Rangers from 2015-2018 — signed a minor-league deal with the Padres in February but never pitched in a Major League game. In fact, Hamels had not pitched in an MLB game since one appearance with the Atlanta Braves in 2020.

The Rangers traded for Hamels at the 2015 deadline, seeking an ace for a playoff push. Even though Hamels had thrown his first solo career no-hitter in his last Philadelphia start, the Phillies traded him and Jake Diekman to the Rangers in exchange for Matt Harrison, Nick Williams, Jorge Alfaro, Jake Thompson, Alec Asher, and Jerad Eickhoff.

The gamble paid off for the Rangers that season. Hamels went 7–1 in 12 starts with a 3.66 ERA as he helped the Rangers win the AL West. He started the game that clinched the division title for the Rangers.

Here's Cole Hamels saying goodbye to his #TexasRangers teammates after finding out he'd been traded to the Chicago Cubs

The Rangers received right-handed pitchers Eddie Butler and Rollie Lacy plus a PTBNL in return pic.twitter.com/DsbsTrC190
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) July 27, 2018

Hamels remained with the Rangers in 2016, where he went 15–5 with a 3.32 ERA in 32 starts and helped the Rangers to the playoffs again, which is their most recent playoff appearance.

Hamels missed eight weeks in 2017 with an oblique strain and in 24 starts he went 11–6 with a 4.20 ERA.

The Rangers sought a return on Hamels in 2018 coming up on the trade deadline and sent him to the Chicago Cubs for Eddie Butler, Rollie Lacy, and Alexander Ovalles.

Hamels was 38-21 with a 3.90 ERA with the Rangers. During his time in Texas, he became the 77th pitcher to compile 2,000 career strikeouts. He finished with 2,560.

He is most associated with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he pitched his first 10 seasons, won 114 games, was a three-time All-Star, and helped the Phillies win the 2008 World Series. He was the MVP of both the National League Championship Series and World Series that season.

He finished his career with a 163-122 record and a 3.43 ERA.

You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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