FORT WORTH - This is the off-season of contentment for Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels.

He knows where he will be on opening day and beyond next season: at the front of the rotation.

He is with a team coming off a playoff appearance with a real possibility of doing more in the next season.

He is in a good spot for the first time in a long while.

"When we come into spring training, I’m going to be excited to be there for a full season,” Hamels said on Wednesday during the club’s holiday visit to Cook Children’s Medical Center.

It has been five years since everything aligned properly for Hamels . Since then, he has been surrounded by depressing realities.

Hamels went into each of the last three seasons with a Philadelphia team that had no chance of being competitive. From opening day 2013 until July 31 of this season, when the trade to the Rangers went down, the Phillies were 56 games under .500 at 267-323.

Hamels’ future with the Phillies became a noisy issue as far back as after the 2011 season, when he was one year from free agency. The sides worked out a new contract in July 2012.

(The deal, a guaranteed $144 million for six years, made Hamels the second-highest paid pitcher every by average annual value. He is now tied for 11th.)

At this time a year ago, it had become apparent the Phillies would trade Hamels. From spring training through the day of the trade, Hamels dealt with the distractions.

His frustrations, which began bubbling toward the top during the losing seasons, became obvious. About three weeks before the trade, Philadelphia manager Pete Mackanin told reporters that he could see the frustration rising within Hamels.

The trade freed Hamels from all the aggravations. To join a team that won the American League West by going 38-22 after his arrival made it that much better.

"It always leaves you wanting more," Hamels said. "Even if you win, you always want to be at the top. It gives you a level of excitement going into your training. It gives you a better connection with your teammates.

"I’ve been able to see a bunch of the guys during the off-season, and I think everybody is excited for what we have and what (general manager Jon Daniels) is going with the team. He likes what we are and believes in what we can accomplish.”

The Rangers base that confidence on having Hamels for a full season, knowing he did not perform at his best for them last year.

He was good enough for them to win the division. The Rangers were 10-2 in Hamels’ regular-season starts, which was remarkable. Do that over a full 32-start season, and the Rangers would go 27-5 in his starts.

Hamels can do better.

Hamels had a 3.66 ERA with the Rangers. That ranked only 28th among American League qualifiers over the final two months of the season.

He did that while learning a new league and a new team while trying to regain full command of the fastball. At the end of the AL Division Series against Toronto, Hamels was mentally exhausted.

He is refreshed now, the mental clutter gone. An eager Hamels started his off-season throwing program earlier than usual. He is gearing up to working with his fourth pitching coach in four years, Doug Brocail.

For most top-shelf pitchers, having four pitching coach in four years would be a mind-bender. Hamels can find humor in the situation. A young Hamels attended games at San Diego’s Jack Murphy Stadium and cheered for a hulking young reliever with the Padres: Doug Brocail.

"Things do come around full circle,” said Hamels, back to where he wants to be.