Keith Law, ESPN Senior Writer 9y

Cubs bet on Hammel returning to NL form

The Chicago Cubs used Jason Hammel exactly as a non-contending team should last year: They signed him to a low-base, one-year deal, got three great months from him and flipped him to a contender for a prospect; he was part of the Jeff Samardzija trade to the A's that netted the Cubs both shortstop prospect Addison Russell and left-field prospect Billy McKinney. The Cubs brought Hammel back on Monday on a much more expensive deal, two years and $18 million (with a club option for a third year), which must indicate

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