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Left-handed starter Cole Hamels has a $20 million team option the Cubs can pick up and the deadline to do so is on Friday. If the Cubs don’t exercise it then Hamels will be bought out for $6 million. Since his incredible last few months in 2018, it’s pretty much been a given that the Cubs would retain Hamels for 2019, however, things are getting a tad bit interesting.
Although it still seems evident that the Cubs will indeed have Hamels back in 2019, the thought of a multi-year deal appears to be slim and according to Ken Rosenthal the Cubs might be looking to make a trade before committing the $20 million to the veteran lefty.
#Cubs might make a trade to clear salary before picking up Hamels’ $20M option, sources tell The Athletic. At this point, a long-term deal for Hamels is unlikely. If Cubs decline option and make Hamels a free agent, #Rangers will pay his $6M buyout. But goal is to keep him.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 2, 2018
To clear salary?
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First impression, not great. Tom Ricketts makes millions, hundreds of millions on the Cubs and will continue to for a lot more years. Plus, the Cubs are about to get some sort of new TV deal that no matter what will also bring them a boat load of money. So, worrying about money right now to try and fit in Hamels seems kind of not great when most Cubs fans are expecting this team to go all out this offseason for Bryce Harper or Manny Machado.
I understand, though, this isn’t a video game and team have budgets. Fine.
But the thing is, if the Cubs were truly worried about money, then they wouldn’t be considering picking up the $20 million option in the first place. I mean, they’re still going to be over the luxury tax no matter what.
That’s how I’m going to view it for now. There’s just no way I see the organization all of a sudden penny-pinching when there are two superstar players available in free agency, they’re in the middle of their championship window and Theo Epstein specifically talked about some changes needed to be made in the offseason.
I’ll take this as simply the Cubs exploring every option out there and I mean, if somehow they could package the rest of Tyler Chatwood’s contract with a few prospects, then that’s a huge win for the front office.
But damnit, this will not kill my dream of Bryce Harper coming to the Cubs. Plus, Rosenthal said might, so it’s not like they’re desperate to get rid of some salary and again the goal is to have Hamels back in 2019.
I just won’t accept the Cubs not going all out for Harper or Machado in free agency and neither should any fan of this team.
