Chicago Cubs: Filling huge holes at a small prices

Chicago Cubs: A diamond in the rough in Cole Hamels

Due to Chatwood’s struggles and the injury to Darvish, the front office went out and acquired veteran Cole Hamels from the Rangers.

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Granted the lefty was 4-9 with a 4.72 ERA in 2018 with the Rangers, so the price tag for the aging hurler wasn’t going to be very high. He failed to keep the ball in the yard in Arlington and most people perceived his struggles as his imminent decline. Nevertheless, one would imagine he would think he would’ve fetched the Rangers something decent, but the most significant piece the Rangers got back was righty Eddie Butler.

Hamels has been rejuvenated since the trade. He has a 4-0 record with a microscope 1.00 ERA, and the Cubs are 6-1 in the games he has started.

He is slowly turning into the 2018 version of Justin Verlander.

A veteran former All-Star who was thrown into a pennant chase and became the missing piece that led his new team down the stretch.