Cubs retain Hamels for $20 million, trade Smyly
The exercising of left-hander Cole Hamels’ $20 million option Friday should stabilize the Cubs rotation for 2019.
But it required trading lefthander Drew Smyly and his $7 million salary to the Rangers — Hamels’ former team — for a player to be named to accommodate Hamels’ option. It also could hamper the Cubs’ flexibility regarding the magnitude of any future deals.
The Cubs have 13 players under contract at around $160 million for next season. They appear destined to exceed the luxury tax threshold of $206 million (which includes about $14 million in benefits), but aiming for a marquee free-agent hitter such as Bryce Harper or Manny Machado could result in stiffer luxury tax penalties and even amateur draft penalties — depending on the cost.
Nevertheless, their pool of starting pitchers appears set with projected starters Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, Jose Quintana, Yu Darvish and Hamels, with Tyler Chatwood, MikeMontgomery, and Alec Mills providing depth.
Smyly, whohasn’t pitched in the majors since 2016 after Tommy Johnsurgery, was projected as part of the rotation mix. But the Rangers need starting pitching and taking on Smyly’s salary in substance more than covers the $6 million buyout they would have paid Hamels if the Cubs had not picked up his option and allowed him to become a free agent.
As expected, the Cubs didn’t tender a qualifying offer of $17.9 million to free-agent left-handed reliever Justin Wilson, which means they won’t receive a compensation draft pick ifWilson signs elsewhere.
The Cubs, however, still have Montgomery, Randy Rosario, Brian Duensing and Jerry Vasto as left-handed relief options.
In other moves, the Cubs claimed infielder-outfielder Jack Reinheimer off waivers from the Mets. Reinheimer is 5-for-35 (.167) in 23 games with the Diamondbacks andMets in 2017-18.
In a series of procedural moves, pitchers Brandon Morrow, Justin Hancock and Darvish, and outfielder Mark Zagunis were reinstated off the 60-day disabled list, and outfielder Terrance Gore and infielder Mike Freeman were outrighted off the 40-man roster, which stands at 39.
Bench coach BrandonHyde will stay with the Cubs after interviewing for managerial openings with four teams, including the Rangers.
The White Sox, who acquired left-hander Manny Banuelos and picked up the option on reliever Nate Jones earlier this week, declined to tender qualifying offers to pitchers Hector Santiago, Jeanmar Gomez andMiguel Gonzalez.