Cubs Sign Pitcher Jason Hammel

[LT Profits]

One year, 6 mill

[Chi_archie]

I thought this happened over a week ago

[EmpireMaker]

They signed McDonald too, I like McDonald better when he is healthy.

[LT Profits]

I thought this happened over a week ago

I guess they were still negotiating, contract finalized today. He can make another million in incentives.

[MikeTizzy]

Here comes the cubbies moves with Epstein

[bostonboss]

cubs suck. Epstein way overrated....

[Dirty Sanchez]

....

[Dirty Sanchez]

Or my other favorite after the first game of the year

[SteveKerrsJunk]

Wow. In disbelief. Can't believe we locked up Hammel! This guy is a perrernial ace! Still have the stud Edwin Jackson locked up! McDonald! Damn! Shark! We may have a top 15 staff in the national league now! Go cubs!

[Dirty Sanchez]

[Ralphie Halves]

Cannot figure this move out. They need to start almost all prospects. Marlin it out until they get it right.

[EXhoosier10]

Cannot figure this move out. They need to start almost all prospects. Marlin it out until they get it right.

The cubs pitching staff, both major league and minor league, is atrocious. They've been in but failed on just about every big name SP over the last few years (Anibal, Tanaka, et al).

Some of their best pitchers of late have all been buy-low kind of guys (2013: Travis Wood, Scott Feldman, 2012: Paul Maholm) and Theo has done a nice job of turning all of these guys into younger prospects. That's all he can do rather than give some 25MM contract to bronson arroyo and let him waste away on a losing team. Buy low, sell high. rinse, repeat.

[d2bets]

Cannot figure this move out. They need to start almost all prospects. Marlin it out until they get it right.

Very easy to figure out. The few starting pitching prospects they have are not close to ready. Its a simple 1 year deal that could be even less with a trade deadline flip. Makes perfect sense. He's not blocking anyone,and if he does, then he will be dealt. Got to have SP depth.

[Chi_archie]

Cubs actually have a very interesting staring pitching staff...

lots of guys that have higher ceilings and have had success but come cheap now due to injury issues ect.

[Big Bear]

Cubs actually have a very interesting staring pitching staff...

lots of guys that have higher ceilings and have had success but come cheap now due to injury issues ect.

yeah and their pitching staff has depth too. Pretty fukkin solid if you ask me. If the Rockies had the Cubs pitching rotation they would be in the playoffs...

however the Cubs offense sucks real bad!!!

Ruggiano, Castro, Rizzuto, and Scherhoelz aint bad but they have a very weak overall line-up

[Chi_archie]

well Phil Rizzuto prob won't hit to well this year but better than some other cubs most likely.

I mean he has been dead for 7 years

we will see if his signing is a smart one by Theo


Rizzo and Castro need to bounce back, won't be long till the stud position players start hitting the major league roster in waves though

[Cross]

They better score some runs with those hitting prospects.

[Ralphie Halves]

Very easy to figure out. The few starting pitching prospects they have are not close to ready. Its a simple 1 year deal that could be even less with a trade deadline flip. Makes perfect sense. He's not blocking anyone,and if he does, then he will be dealt. Got to have SP depth.

Gotta have it for what? A postseason run? No chance.

I do see the possibility of a trade late, but it's a gamble that he's going to be healthy and productive, especially moving into more of a hitter's park.

[lesterdymond]

Another mush move by the scrubs.

[EmpireMaker]

The Cubs need to get as many "bargain" and "potential" type pitchers in on the cheap as possible and keep the ones that pan out. Paying the big price for 1 isn't going to help them.

[LT Profits]

Another mush move by the scrubs.

"mush" implies that Hammel is good to begin with. He has one good year for Baltimore two years ago, and had an ERA around 5.00 in every other season. Granted most of that was in Colorado, but still.

[crackerjack]

"mush" implies that Hammel is good to begin with. He has one good year for Baltimore two years ago, and had an ERA around 5.00 in every other season. Granted most of that was in Colorado, but still.

But he did have a good year. You are implying it was a once in a lifetime fluke. Maybe he'll be like most years, but I think it's worth it for the Cubs to gamble that he might repeat his good season...it wasn't that long ago. I reserve the right to pass judgment until after he's pitched in some games but I predict his ERA will be lower than 5.00 and would bet that line if it was available.

[cash$bro91]

106 years and counting!

[Chi_archie]

The Cubs need to get as many "bargain" and "potential" type pitchers in on the cheap as possible and keep the ones that pan out. Paying the big price for 1 isn't going to help them.

I think Theo and Co is going about it the right way for now

[kknoll]

Finaly we need new pitchers im new to this anyone wanna help me out to start

[EmpireMaker]

"mush" implies that Hammel is good to begin with. He has one good year for Baltimore two years ago, and had an ERA around 5.00 in every other season. Granted most of that was in Colorado, but still.

I don't think Hammel is very good I didn't have him on any of my fantasy teams (by choice) and never regretted it.

[Cross]

At least Soriano is gone!

[LT Profits]

But he did have a good year. You are implying it was a once in a lifetime fluke. Maybe he'll be like most years, but I think it's worth it for the Cubs to gamble that he might repeat his good season...it wasn't that long ago. I reserve the right to pass judgment until after he's pitched in some games but I predict his ERA will be lower than 5.00 and would bet that line if it was available.

That may be, but I was specifically (and jokingly) referring to the posters use of the word "mush", which is usually used only for guys that have been fairly consistently good until arriving at Wrigley.

[EXhoosier10]

I think Theo and Co is going about it the right way for now

I 100% agree with this

Cubs actually have a very interesting staring pitching staff...

lots of guys that have higher ceilings and have had success but come cheap now due to injury issues ect.

Care to elaborate on these interesting guys?

Shark - Their best chance at an ace. Has gotten rocked by the HR and big innings in the past, but otherwise a solid #2, luck would put him a decent #1.
EJax - potential to be a low end #1, most likely #2. Too inconsistent from the stretch to ever be elite or trusted in a big game.
Travis Wood - had a good 2013, but lets be serious. He's a #3/4 starter.
Hammel - his peripherals looked good barring the injury last year and 2011, but, again, upside is basically the same as ejax, maybe a bit better. He's on a 1 year deal, though, so even if he has a good season, he's going to be flipped in July.
Rusin - LOL
Arrieta - has spent four seasons at AAA with 10+ starts. Has gotten rocked each of the 4 years he's been in MLB. Minor league numbers aren't very impressive, nor are his peripherals
Vizcaino - bullpen arm
CJ Edwards - fine, he's got some upside, but also has the chance of moving to the bullpen.
Pierce Johnson - just entering AA. Solid numbers last year. Profiled as a #3/#4.

[I/O]

All is well guys!

The Cubs have a manager that speaks Spanish

[I/O]

106 years and counting!

[daneblazer]

Vizcaino - bullpen arm

Assuming he can stay healthy, he has closer written all over him.

[Otters27]

Don't think Hammel is worth 6 million. Hope he does good. Solid pitcher not that well known

[d2bets]

Don't think Hammel is worth 6 million. Hope he does good. Solid pitcher not that well known

6 mil isn't much these days, esp. with only a 1 yr deal. If it was 3 years at 6 mil each that's a different story.

[d2bets]

Gotta have it for what? A postseason run? No chance.

I do see the possibility of a trade late, but it's a gamble that he's going to be healthy and productive, especially moving into more of a hitter's park.

Gotta have it to field a team without being forced to reach deep down to start pitchers who are nowhere near ready to start MLB games and to have depth in case of injuries. Cubs don't have much in terms of near-ready minor league starting pitching. They've made trades to help try to rectify that, but it's not enough and that's why signings like Hammel and McDonald are necessary and wise.