Cubs Sign RHP Jason Hammel

The Cubs have come to an agreement for a one-year deal with right handed pitcher Jason Hammels, first reported by Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal. Yahoo! Sports writer Jeff Passan filled out more details, saying that the deal was for somewhere in the $6 million range.

Hammel is an eight-year veteran who Cubs fans will be most familiar with during his three-year stint with the Rockies from 2009-2011. He has spent the past two seasons with the Orioles where he's made 43 starts and posted a 4.27 ERA in the tough AL East. He started his career in Tampa Bay.

Hammel is a big guy, listed at 6'6", but he's not a terribly good strikeout pitcher, although he did post some good numbers in 2012, his best season. He's also not a great ground ball pitcher, as he records more outs by fly balls than he does by ground balls. This no doubt explains some of his struggles when he pitched for the Rockies.

Hammel is not a thrilling signing, but as Passan notes, he's another "Scott Feldman" type signing. A low-risk pitcher who can be flipped at the trade deadline if he has a good season or can be cut loose if he doesn't. He will probably immediately move into the back half of the Cubs rotation