SURPRISE, Ariz. -- There's no debate at this point: The Texas Rangers are the unluckiest MLB team over the past year and change. And as if they needed any more heartache, their latest bombshell of bad news was confirmed Friday morning when Yu Darvish, one of the best pitchers in the world, announced he will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery.

It has been a dreadful 13 months for the Rangers, who are setting records for pain and absenteeism.

But now is the time for the Rangers to act, and to dial up the Phillies to change their luck. The Phillies haven't been especially lucky this spring, either, as former Rangers star Cliff Lee's arm issue has flared up again, and he appears to be pitching on borrowed time. In any case, the Phllies need to continue their rebuild no matter what's going on with Lee. They need to trade Lee's locker mate Cole Hamels, and the Rangers should be the obvious landing spot for Hamels at this point.

The Rangers are said to have stayed in touch with Philly periodically regarding Hamels, and while a person familiar with their talks suggested "nothing's fresh" at the moment, it makes too much sense not to step up those  discussions. The Red Sox, Cubs, Dodgers, Padres and others have been tied more frequently to Hamels, but Texas is the team that makes the most sense.

As one competing GM pointed out, the Rangers are a rare team with both the money and the prospects to make it work.

The Rangers have liked Hamels for a long time, too. A few years back, the teams talked about a deal that would have sent third-base prospect Mike Olt and presumably others to Philly for Hamels. That won't happen now, as Olt has since been dealt to the Cubs where he happily appears to on the verge of resurrecting his once promising career after a beanball incident. But Texas has other young players to deal.

At present, it's fair to say Texas has the greatest need, too. Yovani Gallardo was a solid winter import, but the rotation looks too thin to compete in the tough A.L. West now.  Derek Holland is coming along slowly in spring. Colby Lewis is a solid veteran. But most of the rest of the staff is like a tryout camp.

Ross Detwiler has been impressive so far, basically locking up a spot within days of arriving here. Word is, they like what they've seen from second-year men Nick Tepesch and Anthony Ranaudo, a Red Sox import, so far. After that, Nick Martinez and hard-throwing Ivy League journeyman Ross Ohlendorf are also in a blurry rotation picture.

The Phillies haven't seemed nearly satisfied with the offers they've received for Hamels, like Darvish one of the game's best pitchers. Maybe that shouldn't be a surprise since he has $96 million to go over four years. They had to find a team with a stark need, and this may finally be it.

The Rangers suffered a lost season in 2014 when they set a major-league record for injuries, and also for using 64 players and 40 pitchers (40!). If they don't act now, they could be headed for another one. They have the type of lineup to contend, and they shouldn't give up so soon. Doing nothing would be tantamount to throwing up one's hands in this case. That's not them.

While there are questions about Hamels in the American League (he hasn't been especially good in interleague games), the Rangers have no choice now. Dillon Gee and Ryan Vogelsong are fine pitchers, but they need a season saver at this point.

The Rangers also may be able to do it without surrendering several top prospects. The Phillies are said to be asking for three very good prospects, preferably one who will be ready soon. Some have complained that Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, who needs to make three more trades to complete this phase of the needed rebuild, is asking for too much. Maybe he is, but if the examples of too much are Mookie Betts or Blake Swihart, I'm not sure he is.

Hamels is a game changer.

Fortunately for the Rangers, they have those types of highly ranked prospects. They have slugger Joey Gallo and catcher Jorge Alfaro, and they also have right-handers Luke Jackson and Alex Gonzalez, outfielder Nick Williams and several others.  There is a deal to be made.

While Hamels' contract isn't exactly of the bargain-basement variety, with $96 million left over four years it looks better than comparable lefty Jon Lester's $155 million for six. A healthy Hamels is worth it. While Lester gets a slight edge here for extra toughness, Hamels would give the Rangers, a two-time World Series entry, real hope.

The other teams haven't done what it takes, and there may be decent reasons for that. But the Rangers may have an opening to do what they need.

Boston has been seen as a possible spot for Hamels, and Philly has extensively scouted them (especially Betts and Swihart, who apparently aren't going anywhere). But the Red Sox would be way over the luxury-tax threshold if they got Hamels.

The Cubs already added their ace in Lester. The Dodgers have the money but they already have two aces. The Padres have to be nearing their dollar limit by now, and appear to be concentrating on Cuban infielder Hector Olivera at the moment.

Yu Darvish
Yu Darvish will not be back for the Rangers until 2016. (USATSI)

The Rangers are the obvious team, especially after Darvish made it official with his announcement that he will undergo Tommy John surgery next Tuesday, performed by noted surgeon James Andrews. Darvish said he knew he would have the surgery as soon as Rangers doctor Keith Meister surprised him by diagnosing the damage and recommending it.

This is a long way from the mild inflammation diagnosed late last summer. But Darvish said he still doesn't feel pain, or really even any stiffness. Either way, this was an easy call for him.

"If I try to pitch through it, it might cause more problems for the team," Darvish said. The recommended time away is 14 months, taking him just into next season.

While Darvish described his issue as a "fraying" through an interpreter, others have called it a tear. And Darvish said Mets doctor David Altchek, the second surgeon to see him and recommend surgery, told him "Your ligament is in a dangerous spot."

Considering the news, Darvish was remarkably upbeat, saying his only concern is having to undergo anesthesia. "I don't feel anything negative, because nothing positive is going to come out of [that]," Darvish said. "If I'm upset, worried, nothing positive is going to come out of it. I just want to stay positive about this."

He declined to talk about "the hows and whys" as he put it, or to speculate whether the five-man rotation and bigger ball used in MLB had any effect.

"Obviously it's a bump in the road for my career and the game," Darvish conceded. But, he added, "Knowing this is going to make me better, I feel nothing but positive-ness."

Darvish's attitude is exemplary. However, without him, it is difficult to feel very positive about the Rangers' chances.