MLB Rumors: Chicago Cubs may be looking to trade Jason Hammel
By Bryan Rose
When you’re an aging veteran and have a good season on a bad team, there’s a strong likelihood you’ll be traded.
More from Chicago Cubs
- MLB Rumors: Yankees mistake, Cardinals trade package, Cubs choice
- MLB Rumors: Cardinals budging on Arenado, Orioles-Ohtani package, Yankees backup plan
- Cubs: Cody Bellinger is putting up come-and-get-me numbers
- Cubs front office deserves an apology for Willson Contreras hysteria
- MLB standings ordered by hard hit rate: Struggling Cardinals still cracking bats
That rings especially true for baseball, which is why Chicago Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel knows he could be changing zip codes come the July trade deadline.
Few positions outside of starting pitching are more in demand come the Summer trading period and with the Cubs struggling yet again, they have little reason to keep Hammel in Chicago.
Of course, it sounds like Hammel would prefer to remain with the Cubs but knows the better he pitches, the more interested opposing teams become.
“I know my own value,” Hammel said. “My value is in here for the Cubs. That’s the way I see it. I’m not going to play into the whole trade talk. It is what it is. The only way you can’t get traded in baseball is if you have a no-trade clause. And that’s it. It could happen to anybody. I love it here,” Hammel said. “I just want to continue to pitch and compete like I have.”
While Hammel may love Chicago (and that’s completely understandable), I don’t imagine he’s enjoying pitching for a losing team. A mid-season trade is likely to put him on a team in contention for a playoff spot, though, with that comes a lot of pressure and it’s no guarantee that said team will put Hammel in the starting rotation.
Regardless, Hammel seems more than aware of what may be lurking around the corner and seems to just be enjoying the moment while he can.