CHICAGO -- He was an all-star as recently as 2016, when he went 15-5, but new Chicago Cubs lefty Cole Hamels has seen his ERA rise rapidly over the last three seasons, from 3.32 that year to 4.20 in 2017 to 4.72 right now, as he takes his distinguished career to Chicago.
On the surface, the trade with the Texas Rangers of Hamels for minor league prospects -- which the two sides haven't made official yet -- is a risky one. After all, Cubs manager Joe Maddon opined earlier this week, that a trade for a new player must be a slam dunk.