Major League Baseball

Morosi: Cubs agree to 2-year, $18M deal with free-agent RHP Hammel

Published Dec. 8, 2014 11:46 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a two-year, $18 million deal with free-agent right-hander Jason Hammel, FOX Sports 1 MLB Insider Jon Paul Morosi confirms.

Morosi also confirms the deal includes a team option for a third year with a $2 million buyout.

Hammel, 32, went 8-5 with a 2.98 ERA in 17 starts for the Cubs last season before being traded to the Oakland Athletics on July 5 in the deal that also sent right-hander Jeff Samardzija to the A's. In 13 games (12 starts) for Oakland, Hammel was 2-6 with a 4.26 ERA.

In his nine-year major-league career, Hammel is 59-70 with a 4.60 ERA.

It's been a busy offseason for the Cubs.

They landed one of the game's top managers in Joe Maddon. They're in the running for prized free agent starter Jon Lester. The long-awaited renovation of Wrigley Field is under way.

Throw in the fact that they're loaded with prospects and there's a sense that big things are happening, that a string of five losing seasons could be coming to an end.

Hammel joins what could be a solid rotation with or without Lester. Jake Arrieta (10-5 with a 2.53 ERA in 25 starts) impressed last season as did Kyle Hendricks (7-2, 2.46 ERA, 13 starts). If Hammel pitches the way he did in Chicago last season and Travis Wood (8-13, 5.03 ERA) regains the form that made him an All-Star in 2013, opposing hitters could have a tough time.

The Cubs also have a pair of All-Stars in the lineup in first baseman Anthony Rizzo and shortstop Starlin Castro.

Top prospects Javier Baez and Jorge Soler had some positive moments in their first major league action last season, and another wave of young players that includes third baseman Kris Bryant and shortstop Addison Russell is in the pipeline.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.