Cubs decline Hammel's option

[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.

 

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

#-o

 

Ummmm...no. Oops.

[Tim]

btw - I have faith that the front office has a plan, but I'm thinking they must feel pretty confident about finding some competition for that 5th starter role.

[Banedon]

I wonder if maybe Hammel wanted out? He and Joe were butting heads toward the end of the season, and he could be bitter about not being on the playoff roster.

[davell]

I wonder if maybe Hammel wanted out? He and Joe were butting heads toward the end of the season, and he could be bitter about not being on the playoff roster.

 

Possible. But if he was being an ass, I doubt we'd have handled his exit in the way we did.

[sneakypower]

just readying for the Otani posting

[Banedon]

I wonder if maybe Hammel wanted out? He and Joe were butting heads toward the end of the season, and he could be bitter about not being on the playoff roster.

 

Possible. But if he was being an ass, I doubt we'd have handled his exit in the way we did.

 

I'm not saying he was being an ass, but he could still be upset, and be professional about it publicly. Maybe a handshake agreement with Theo to decline the option? Obviously I'm very much speculating here...

[davell]

I wonder if maybe Hammel wanted out? He and Joe were butting heads toward the end of the season, and he could be bitter about not being on the playoff roster.

 

Possible. But if he was being an ass, I doubt we'd have handled his exit in the way we did.

 

I'm not saying he was being an ass, but he could still be upset, and be professional about it publicly. Maybe a handshake agreement with Theo to decline the option? Obviously I'm very much speculating here...[/quo

 

Oh, I think there was definitely a verbal agreement being referenced by the press release.

[Post Count Padder]

Well, darn.

 

Nice thing for Theo to do, I guess. Weak market, he'll get a 3-4 year deal from someone.

[Cubswin11]

From Rogers article..... Sounds like they let Hammel have an option on the option.

 

"A source familiar with the situation, told ESPN.com that the team gave Hammel the option to decide if he wanted to return in 2017 or test the free agency next winter, in a very attractive market for starting pitchers."

Edited November 7, 2016 by Cubswin11

[Donzo]

I'm thinking something has to lined up. At this moment, there is no starting pitching depth. With Montgomery sliding into the 5th spot, that's it. If Wood is resigned, then there's that.

 

One of the things that went the Cubs way this year was good health for the starting pitching staff, that needs to continue... I was young in 84 & 85, but I remember devastating injuries to the starting pitching in 85 ruined a repeat of 84's success... I believe all five starting pictures were on the DL at one time or anther in 85.

[Agony and Ivy]

I'm thinking something has to lined up. At this moment, there is no starting pitching depth. With Montgomery sliding into the 5th spot, that's it. If Wood is resigned, then there's that.

 

One of the things that went the Cubs way this year was good health for the starting pitching staff, that needs to continue... I was young in 84 & 85, but I remember devastating injuries to the starting pitching in 85 ruined a repeat of 84's success... I believe all five starting pictures were on the DL at one time or anther in 85.

 

They had great health last year too. Outside of Hammel, of course.

[Tedward]

From Rogers article..... Sounds like they let Hammel have and option on the option.

 

"A source familiar with the situation, told ESPN.com that the team gave Hammel the option to decide if he wanted to return in 2017 or test the free agency next winter, in a very attractive market for starting pitchers."

 

If the above is true, and Hammel is bent on testing FA, why wouldn't we slap a QO on him?

[Cubswin11]

From Rogers article..... Sounds like they let Hammel have and option on the option.

 

"A source familiar with the situation, told ESPN.com that the team gave Hammel the option to decide if he wanted to return in 2017 or test the free agency next winter, in a very attractive market for starting pitchers."

 

If the above is true, and Hammel is bent on testing FA, why wouldn't we slap a QO on him?

If they wanted him that badly they just would've exercised the option and said horsefeathers your wanting FA. They clearly didn't overly care to have him back or not and let him decide.

[KatJ]

Wow.

 

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Well, well. I'd been wondering about this. Wasn't terribly impressed with Hammel this year beyond the potato chip thing. Mildly surprised they moved this quickly. Theo must be as antsy as the rest of us to get next year going.

[MUCubsfan]

It doesn't feel right that I have to start thinking about offseason decisions already. We just had a World Series parade two days ago and now I have to think about 2017 already?

[imb]

this is exciting, they must think they have more options than I can come up with right now in my heads

[d_money]

Wow.

 

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Well, well. I'd been wondering about this. Wasn't terribly impressed with Hammel this year beyond the potato chip thing. Mildly surprised they moved this quickly. Theo must be as antsy as the rest of us to get next year going.

Theo's still on his bender. This must've been a Jed decision :).

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Good. Hammel sucks and we deserve better. Clearly they want better. Go make it happen.

 

(Obviously his option was a good deal and all. But, yeah, I've seen enough of Jason Hammel. I want 117.)

[Aaron_Kennelly]

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 assholes 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.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

And I agree with others' sentiments that, obviously, it wasn't really about doing a favor for a loyal player. At least it wasn't wholly about that. But, the return for Jason Hammel wasn't going to be anything special. And being on the hook for his salary is a risk if you can't find any takers. There might be something there about building goodwill. And I'm sure that factored in. There's probably a lot of stuff that factored in. But all of these factors were of smaller significance. I think this is more a case of them not wanting to sweat the small stuff. Think big. Think really big. If we want another middle reliever -- that would have been a possible acquisition in a trade for Hammel -- there are other ways to get one. We don't need to worry about that stuff, though. Address it. Find a way to fix the minor things. But let's focus on the big things. Let's knock this off-season out of the park like we did last year. Let's not worry about the Jason Hammels of the world.

[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)

[WrigleyField 22]

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.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

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.

[KatJ]

Good. Hammel sucks and we deserve better. Clearly they want better. Go make it happen.

 

(Obviously his option was a good deal and all. But, yeah, I've seen enough of Jason Hammel. I want 117.)

 

117? Wins?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

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.