Chicago Cubs decline option on pitcher Hammel
The Chicago Cubs on Sunday declined the $12 million club option on right-handed starting pitcher Jason Hammel, making him a free agent.
This season, the 34-year-old Hammel went 15-10 with a 3.83 ERA in 30 regular-season starts. He was not a part of the Cubs' postseason roster for any of the three postseason rounds.
Cubs president Theo Epstein praised Hammel.
"First, I want to thank Jason for all of his contributions in his almost three seasons as a Cub," Epstein said as quoted in a news release. "He was an effective, reliable starter the entire time he was a Cub, and this year he was an integral part of one of the best rotations in club history.
"We would not have been in a position to win the World Series without Jason's terrific performance during the regular season. Jason and his family have been outstanding members of our organization and our community, and we are proud of their time with and impact on the Cubs.
"While Jason is healthy and primed to have another effective season in 2017, we have decided to consider other internal and external options for our starting rotation next year.
"Our hope is that by giving a starting opportunity to some younger pitchers under multiple years of club control, we can unearth a starter who will help us not only in 2017 but also in 2018 and beyond."
One of those options could be left-hander Mike Montgomery, whom the Cubs obtained from Seattle in a July trade. Montgomery proved to a valuable swing man, and he earned a save in Game 7 of the World Series against the Cleveland Indians.
The Cubs originally signed Hammel as a free agent before the 2014 season. While still in a rebuilding mode, they traded him to Oakland in July 2014 in a deal that brought shortstop Addison Russell to Chicago.
In December 2014 the Cubs again signed Hammel as a free agent, to a two-year deal with the club option.
During both the 2015 and 2016 seasons, Hammel expressed displeasure at times at being taken out of games early by manager Joe Maddon.
"When we agreed with Jason on this two-year contract back at the 2014 winter meetings, the option was included with the intent that it would be exercised if Jason was going to be a Cub in 2017," Epstein said in his statement.
"The intent was never to exercise the option and then trade Jason, so we will not consider that path. Instead, Jason will have the opportunity to enter free agency coming off an outstanding season and the ability to choose his next club.
"Meanwhile, the organization gains some flexibility and the opportunity to use a rotation spot to develop a younger, long-term starting pitcher. We wish the Hammels nothing but the absolute best going forward.
"We would certainly be open to Jason rejoining the organization in the future, but even if that never happens we will always consider him a Cub and be thankful for his role in delivering a World Series championship to the people of Chicago."