Cubs decline Hammel's option

[Cubswin11]

As to what this means for Fowler: It means nothing. The characterization of this was that it was all about letting a loyal player pick his next adventure. They didn't want to be horsefeathers and ship him off to Atlanta or a horsefeathers hole like Cleveland. They said nothing about costing him money or anything like that. Dex still can go wherever he pleases. He still gets to make the call. Offering him a QO isn't the same thing. Now, they could have an under-the-table agreement not to do so. But the two situations are very different.

Well looks like they will offer the QO, but the perception last year was that hurt his offers. Either he improved his standing enough that the QO will be meaningless to his suitors, or there is some interest in bringing him back.

 

Last year's OF market was way better too: Heyward, Upton, Cespedes, Gordon, even Span to go along with Fowler. This year it's Cespedes, Fowler, Desmond, and I guess Reddick.

Speaking of, depending on price, I wouldn't mind Reddick as Fowler's replacement (Heyward moves to CF along with Almora). Schwarber/Zobrist/Bryant in LF/Heyward and Almora in CF/Soler, Reddick and Heyward in RF would be pretty productive playing match ups. You wouldn't lost much on super defense either, especially late in games, going Reddick/Almora/Heyward left to right.

Edited November 7, 2016 by Cubswin11

[Tim]

As to what this means for Fowler: It means nothing. The characterization of this was that it was all about letting a loyal player pick his next adventure. They didn't want to be horsefeathers and ship him off to Atlanta or a horsefeathers hole like Cleveland. They said nothing about costing him money or anything like that. Dex still can go wherever he pleases. He still gets to make the call. Offering him a QO isn't the same thing. Now, they could have an under-the-table agreement not to do so. But the two situations are very different.

Well looks like they will offer the QO, but the perception last year was that hurt his offers. Either he improved his standing enough that the QO will be meaningless to his suitors, or there is some interest in bringing him back.

 

Last year's OF market was way better too: Heyward, Upton, Cespedes, Gordon, even Span to go along with Fowler. This year it's Cespedes, Fowler, Desmond, and I guess Reddick.

I'm guessing Houston won't offer the QO to Rasmus again, not that it matters much.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

does the compensation pick for losing Hammel depend on whether the Cubs give him the QO or not? or since he won 15 would he be a comp A pick?

 

also if we lose Hammel, Fowler, and Chapman... would we be looking at 3 comp A picks? (who gets 3 comp A picks other than St. Louis :D)

 

They can't offer a QO to Chapman and get a draft pick because he was acquired midseason. They likely won't offer Hammel the QO because it's around $17M and they just turned down a $12M option for him.

[Omar]

R.A. Dickey, your Cubs rotation spot is ready.

[shnsajax]

I liked Hammel, mostly because of how much he loved playing for the Cubs. Great dude, go take advantage of a shitty market and grab $50+ million.

[doublebubble]

does the compensation pick for losing Hammel depend on whether the Cubs give him the QO or not? or since he won 15 would he be a comp A pick?

 

also if we lose Hammel, Fowler, and Chapman... would we be looking at 3 comp A picks? (who gets 3 comp A picks other than St. Louis :D)

 

Different levels of compensation picks went away in the last CBA. If you give someone a qualifying offer(this year it's 1/17) and they sign elsewhere, you get a pick after the first round. Chapman isn't eligible to receive a qualifying offer because he was traded midseason, and Hammel won't be given a qualifying offer because he'd accept, so the Cubs will get one pick for Fowler signing elsewhere.

 

thanks TT appreciate the clarification. (and Raisin)

 

Haven't followed the minors at all this year with a family member in the hospital. Does this pretty much spell the end of Pierce Johnson, Duane Underwood and Ryan Williams as possible #5 next year? Were they really that bad?

[Tryptamine]

does the compensation pick for losing Hammel depend on whether the Cubs give him the QO or not? or since he won 15 would he be a comp A pick?

 

also if we lose Hammel, Fowler, and Chapman... would we be looking at 3 comp A picks? (who gets 3 comp A picks other than St. Louis :D)

 

Different levels of compensation picks went away in the last CBA. If you give someone a qualifying offer(this year it's 1/17) and they sign elsewhere, you get a pick after the first round. Chapman isn't eligible to receive a qualifying offer because he was traded midseason, and Hammel won't be given a qualifying offer because he'd accept, so the Cubs will get one pick for Fowler signing elsewhere.

 

thanks TT appreciate the clarification. (and Raisin)

 

Haven't followed the minors at all this year with a family member in the hospital. Does this pretty much spell the end of Pierce Johnson, Duane Underwood and Ryan Williams as possible #5 next year? Were they really that bad?

 

Pierce is pretty much a reliever now, Underwood continues to vastly underpeform his stuff and Williams was hurt all year. Regardless, these aren't the type of arms you experiment with on a World Series contending squad.

[GlassCow]

Enjoyed Hammel's tenure with the Cubs. Hoping he can test the market and wind up making a load of money with any team other than the Cardinals. :flythew:

[Agony and Ivy]

R.A. Dickey, your Cubs rotation spot is ready.

 

I'd like this pickup for depth purposes.

 

Gross. He's pretty horsefeathering terrible, like 7th worst qualified starter in the league terrible. Hard pass.