Cubs decline Hammel's option

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Wow.

 

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[Cubswin11]

This makes no sense to me unless there's an injury they know about

[Hairyducked Idiot]

On the one hand, I've always been a big believer that he is a 3-month pitcher. On the other hand, it was still good value. On the hand that is wearing a championship ring, whatever Epstein wants

[Andy]

Hmm. That's a surprise.

 

They must have an idea of what to do for another starter.

[TruffleShuffle]

i'm pretty surprised by this. i am guessing that montgomery is the in-house favorite for next year?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm looking at the list of FA pitchers, and I'm having trouble finding someone who I think is definitely better than Hammel. More than a few guys of similar caliber, but I have a really hard time believing that some team wouldn't be happy to give something to get one of those caliber guys for 1/12.

[Cubswin11]

Even if they like Montgomery that much, his innings the last 3 years are ~120, ~150 and 100 in this past year and almost all in 2016 were in relief. He probably can't handle a full season of starting, or at least they wouldn't want him jumping to 170-190 innings I'd imagine. Weird move. Edited November 6, 2016 by Cubswin11

[KrisBryantisaBeast]

Given the lack of quality pitching on the free agency market I am surprised they didn't pick up the option, even if they just ended up trading him. They clearly have someone else in mind for that spot. I won't miss Hammel but he was fine as a 5th starter.

[USSoccer]

I sincerely hope they don't do something like trade Javy for some pitcher.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Even if they like Montgomery that much, his innings the last 3 years are ~120, ~150 and 100 his past year and almost all were in relief. He probably can't handle a full season of starting, or at least they wouldn't want him jumping to 170-190 innings I'd imagine. Weird move.

 

Not sure if this is what you mean, but in the last 3 years the only innings Montgomery has in relief are in 2016(78 of them). Also, he threw 14 innings in the postseason so his total this year is ~115.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Even if you like Montgomery, exactly enough SPs is never enough. I assume they believe they can get more.

[Cubswin11]

Even if they like Montgomery that much, his innings the last 3 years are ~120, ~150 and 100 his past year and almost all were in relief. He probably can't handle a full season of starting, or at least they wouldn't want him jumping to 170-190 innings I'd imagine. Weird move.

 

Not sure if this is what you mean, but in the last 3 years the only innings Montgomery has in relief are in 2016(78 of them). Also, he threw 14 innings in the postseason so his total this year is ~115.

Yeah I edited my post. Meant this past season were mostly relief

[UMFan83]

PTR is back!

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm looking at the list of FA pitchers, and I'm having trouble finding someone who I think is definitely better than Hammel. More than a few guys of similar caliber, but I have a really hard time believing that some team wouldn't be happy to give something to get one of those caliber guys for 1/12.

 

Thinking on this a little more, potential reasons that they couldn't trade Hammel:

 

- They want to add rotation depth with or without Hammel and navigating that marginal deal among multiple others isn't worth the benefit

- Teams that would be interested in Hammel for 1/12 would probably be most interested in him as a Plan B, which means you can't trade Hammel until later in the offseason when his freed up money is potentially less useful.

- Theo and Hoyer are going to take the goodwill from the title and get creative/crazy with what they want to do to set up the pitching staff for success in 2017 and the post-Arrieta/Lackey/peak Lester beyond. This requires flexibility that they can't spare on Hammel, even if for only part of the offseason

[CyHawk_Cub]

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[Bryants Disco Ball]

We just won the World Series. Like Javy, Theo can do whatever the hell he wants.

[WrigleyField 22]

See, I like horsefeathers like this because not being treated like property is yet another reason for FAs to listen to the Cubs:

 

So don't expect Fowler's QO to be extended.

[Rob]

I'm pretty shocked by this, to be honest. Hammel has been dealing some injuries and been less effective as a result, but we must not think we're going to be able to get him anywhere near peak to not be worth just $12M for one year.

 

I'd be surprised if we're just handing a rotation spot to Montgomery. Something tells me this is a signal that the front office has big plans again this offseason. I'm guessing we will see Soler moved in a deal for a young SP.

[ScrubMD]

See, I like horsefeathers like this because not being treated like property is yet another reason for FAs to listen to the Cubs:

 

 

Yeah, doing the messageboard calculations, it makes the most sense to try and trade him. But when you actually have to manage humans, this is the right thing.

 

Also, it will be awhile before I criticize a Theo move. He has earned many years of blind loyalty.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Exactly, Theo is more people oriented than some saber-savvy GMs(looking at you Luhnow), but this is the same org that kept Bryant down until late April 2015 too. Is giving Hammel some agency part of the decision? Probably a little. But the likely larger reason is Hammel being not worth terribly much in trade at 1/12 to make doing that dance worth the hassle/downside.

[davell]

I think its classy of the org to handle it this way and yeah, we're bypassing up a bit of value we'd get back via trade. But it'll come back tenfold in the long run, with guys taking discounts to come here. We ARE a model organization.(so great to say)

 

Hopefully, we didn't tell Dex the same thing. That said, losing Hammel's money off the books tells me its more likely we'll bring Dex back, or sign a closer, maybe both.

 

It also tells me we must have an idea of some trades for starting pitching. Because there's no way we go into the year with Monty as our surefire 5th guy. We'll bring in some guys to compete or to just bump him back a year before he's a starter.

[Tim]

I'm pretty sure we stick Hammel with the QO. I'm not as sure about Fowler. If they had a handshake agreement not to do it this time around, I'm sure they'll honor that.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I assume loyalty is code for "we promised him under the table we wouldn't do that as part of his signing."

[davell]

I'm pretty sure we stick Hammel with the QO. I'm not as sure about Fowler. If they had a handshake agreement not to do it this time around, I'm sure they'll honor that.

 

Wait, what? You think we turned down the 12 mill option on Hammel, to give him a 17.2 mill QO?

[Bryants Disco Ball]

I'm pretty sure we stick Hammel with the QO. I'm not as sure about Fowler. If they had a handshake agreement not to do it this time around, I'm sure they'll honor that.

 

I'd be shocked if we put the QO on Hammel.