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37 years old but had a career year last year.
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For 16 million, you can spend worse money and the years make sense (just so happens to coincide with Jake's two years before FA). I think this type of move means a trade for an arm is close. I can't imagine the Cubs want two 36+ veterans at the back of their rotation for 162 games. Would assume Hammel is going somewhere (the Cubs can probably eat his option and get him traded in a market that pays Pelfrey 2/16).
It's so tough to judge moves one at a time; have to see the whole picture to judge.
If you reference the tweet I copy pasted in the other thread, sounds like Theo is hinting at a trade being close. I don't want to say done or anything but seems like he thinks something will get done there.
Even if there's no trade for another pitcher they've bought themselves time. The rotation is now solid. If there's a deal they'll make it but this ensures that they don't have to overpay for a Shelby Miller or Carlos Carrasco. It's a solid if unspectacular move.
Now that Greinke went somewhere surprising, the price for someone like Cueto or Shark just went up even more. This Lackey thing might be a good value
I can't see teams wanting Hammel in a deal unless he headlines a deal that nets a CF and a Controlable SP. the Cubs would have to load it with players that the other team needs.
I just don't see it to be honest. Maybe if they traded Soler and Hammel for Bourn and Miller. I do not see them doing it but that is the type of deal we would be looking at.
I still believe that they will look at a primary CF like Victerino and let Baez get games in CF as the season goes along.
On Lackey. I've felt it made sense. Some pitchers just age well and he is one of them. I would expect 150 ip per year. Any more would be bonus.
Hammel is a quality back end rotation arm. The Cubs might move him to a team who gives up an arm in a deal if the Cubs do a cheap bat for an arm (I.e Soler+Hammel+others for Ross)
While Epstein will continue to pursue young starters in trades, the deal with Lackey (which is dependent on a physical and probably won't be announced until the Winter Meetings) means the Cubs will head toward 2016 with a front three of Arrieta, Lester and Lackey, who combined to go 46-28 with a 2.48 ERA over 98 starts this season.
That's impressive. Ditto the average of 6 2/3 innings per start, the ratio of 8.2 strikeouts and 2.0 walks per nine innings and the combined WAR of 17.5.