Some people are just so impatient. They have to have everything right here and now. Take the Cubs for example. They need starting pitching help, so they went out and got some tonight, rather than waiting until the Winter Meetings actually start tomorrow morning, you know, like normal civilized people would.
sources: jason hammel is close to a deal to return to the chicago cubs
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 8, 2014
Yes, you read that right, the Cubs are on the verge of signing Jason Hammel for the second offseason in a row. Either that or Heyman accidentally posted a tweet from a year ago. I’m going with the former.
Hammel was inked to a one-year, $6 million “prove it” contract last winter and prove it he did. He was dealt along with Jeff Samardzija to the A’s mid-season. Hammel was stellar in his time with the Cubs (2.98 ERA and 3.19 FIP) but wobbled a bit with Oakland (4.26 ERA and 5.10 FIP), but it evened out to a very solid season, so he should be in line for a much bigger payday than last time. In bringing him back, the Cubs are banking on the fact that Hammel found so much more success in the more pitcher-friendly National League.
If/when this becomes official, it represents just the first move in the Cubs’ plan to become a contender in the NL Central and certainly won’t preclude them from their very public pursuit of Jon Lester.
