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By Steve Adams and Jeff Todd | at
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TribeTown
Hammel is a legitimate number 3. Not sure why his market has been so slow
davidcoonce74
I’m assuming that despite what was written here, his medicals aren’t so good. The cubs kept him out of the postseason for a reason and he ended the season injured with “forearm tightness”
Blue_Painted_Dreams_LA
I’m not sure that’s true. His 2nd half slides have been documented and he’s never thrown more than 177ip. Add onto that he’s 34 going on 35. And you’re now questioning whether he can handle more than the 166 he threw last year. Granted he’s the best starter on the market. And yes, I do think he’s a solid #4. But this could get interesting, because we are now entering the one year contract range where guys are now more cognizant that they need a job.
pullhitter445
He’s a #4 if not #5.
patborders92
He’s an NL only pitcher
dwilson10
This is about the time Duquette swoops in and gets a SP for cheap and I don’t see things changing this year. He has came out and said he wants to add a veteran starter and they like Hammel. Give it to the middle or end of next week and Hammel will be back with the Orioles.
SamFuldsFive
Doubtful.
arcadia Ldogg
Wonder what the length of the contract he wants and will get be
astros_fan_84
Someone is going to sign Hammel and be very happy. I also think someone will sign Doug Foster and be happy till the all star break.
BlueSkyLA
How is Blanton not available for a one-year contract?
thinkblech
Perhaps he is, at a number the Dodgers don’t like. I haven’t seen any kind of a number associated with him yet – have you?
ravinefiend
He got 4m last year. Sounds reasonable to me but the Dodgers did just spend a lot of money to keep Jansen, Turner and Hill.
thinkblech
On a one year deal, having done been a solid reliever two years running, just guessing here, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s holding out for 1/7 or 2/12, something along those lines.
BlueSkyLA
No. I was just responding to the article, which said that the Dodgers are still looking for relievers and appreciate Blanton’s work, but are focused on single-year contracts.
thinkblech
Yeah, getting under the LT threshold next year seems like the big time priority, so, not surprising on the one year aspect.
BlueSkyLA
Right, but I am still wondering where the idea comes from that Blanton would not be available on an annual. Given his age and the fact that he’d only be signed as a reliever, I figured he’d be right on the button for the Dodgers. Maybe Blanton is going hard after a second year now, but if so, we haven’t heard that.
chesteraarthur
if he’s not hurt, then the cubs not picking up his option is even more curious
tim815
Wanted under the cap, likely.
Frank Richard
No it’s not. He was open about how he wasn’t happy with his role last year. He was never allowed to pitch past the 6th if he was even allowed that far. He had some other disagreements with Joe Maddon also. I’m sure getting left off the playoff roster didn’t help the situation and it seemed that at the end of last season the Cubs were encouraged by what they saw from Montgomery. They also spoke to him and had a handshake agreement that they wouldn’t just pick his option up to trade him so he could ultimately make the decision where he wanted to sign.
hojostache
Spot on.
I think a team could get a steal in Hammel if they have some depth and don’t need him to start 30 games a season. He can be a very serviceable #4 and at well below market value when you consider a guy like Pelfrey signed a 2/$16m last year to be a fringe #5.
chesteraarthur
This is exactly the cubs. They have 1-4 and then kinda 5s with nothing for sure. montgomery has never shown he can start, Anderson is a ticking time bomb, their options in the minors are less than inspiring. This is why I don’t think it made a lot of sense to let him go. I guess I should have said baseball sense. If he was really whining enough to upset people then, fine, I guess, but it still doesn’t make sense for a team with questions at sp to drop a guy like Hammel and hope that Montgomery can figure out how to throw enough strikes to be a starter or that Brett Anderson doesn’t just break, again.
Red Ivy
Cubs traded Dan vogelbach for mike Montgomery. So one would assume the Cubs have high expectations for Montgomery considering the price paid.
cubsfan2489
Chesterarthur, it’s really not that curious. Both sides agreed that it would best for him to go into free agency, because both sides thought he could get more in free agency. Surprisingly, he has not.
SamFuldsFive
He was the Cubs 5th Starter and would have made way too much money for that, not to mention he’s a primadonna and sucks in the second half. They don’t need him, as they will find innings elsewhere.
johnsilver
Don’t see many guys who have TJ surgery, come back and lose velocity. Aardsma lost 3-4 ticks and the splitter, his out pitch had no bite without the velocity. He was lights out combining that 97 high rider, along with his filthy, in the dirt splitter in Seattle a couple seasons. If not mistaken.. he might have hit 98-99 in Boston before he sort of got his control in order later on. in Seattle.
SuperSinker
There are tons of pitchers who fail after TJ.
So many pitchers experience velocity gains because of the extensive rehab their arms are put through. So guys with weak shoulders will be put on intense rehab programs and build their arms stronger than they were pre-TJ. It’s not because of the procedure.
johnsilver
Guys that fail.. Yeah.. Hanrahan, Then guys who right away need another as well. I’m saying guys who come back medically healthy, but lose the velocity.
bobbyzedd
I’m glad the blue jays are still seeking more bullpen help but signing average at best pitchers will not win them a World Series, they need to make a serious effort to pick up one of the top relievers still available.
jdgoat
I agree that they still need one of Blevins/Logan and maybe a guy like salas or Blanton but don’t forget relievers are very volatile. Howell could go back to the sub 2 ERA guy he’s consistently been and the others could blow up
jimmertee
I agree, Jays are going nowhere without adding 2 pitchers and they don’t have the money for it. They need a top of the rotation starter as well as a top notch reliever. Just because the rotation was great last year doesn’t mean the same guys will be that this year. Happ will take a moderate step back, Sanchez with be great, as stroman probably will be great too if he can eliminate his meltdown inning every-once-in-a-while; Estrada is a very good starter but I hear his back is putty; and Liriano is the wildcard -he is great every 2nd year, which means he sucks every second year – which year is it for him?
patborders92
There are no top line starters available. We have an ace in Sanchez and 4 other quality arms, the subtraction of RA makes this rotation better, even if you factor in regression. The rotation is the last thing this team needs to address, we still probably have the best rotation in the division.
The baseball kid
Aardsma is back boyz
lesterdnightfly
Which concepts have the Mets and Blevins been exchanging? The concepts of existentialism, ethnocentralism, dualism, free will? Or of time, virtue, moral responsibility… ?
One hint that the Mets will sign Blevins is if they hire a Philosophy Coach.
hojostache
Knowing the Mets they would try and push Keith Hernandez into talking with him so they don’t have to shell out $100k* for a Philosophy Coach.
*Obviously with deferred money, as the Mets can’ afford to just throw money around willy-nilly!
lesterdnightfly
Well said. Maybe hire Bobby Bonilla as Coach. He could discuss with Blevins the concept of Peace of Mind, as exemplified by a lifetime of lucrative annual payouts.
alproof
Mets need Blevins AND Salas back.
therealbdavis
So do the Braves know that Nolan Ryan is a free agent along with Greg Maddux? Oh maybe they can swing Jamie Moyer. Should rename themselves the Ancients with their pitching lineup.
hojostache
Colon was arguably the 2nd or 3rd best pitcher available this off-season. He has been the most consistent pitcher for the Mets since they signed him. Dude is a god damn national treasure. He can still do a split!
Dickey… I have no idea if he will be effective. I will be watching most of his starts this year bc I love watching knuckballers throw.
glassml
Good Lord anywhere but the TX Rangers. Hammel, Hamels…..Hamels, Hammel. Ugh
OPACY
Honestly, I thought Seattle might give Hammel a look. There might be something more to him than we know. Maybe not a good fit in a club house. But about 10 days to go until pitchers and catchers report and he has no where to go.