The Chicago Cubs have gotten more than any of us could have anticipated when it comes to Cole Hamels. At the time, the veteran southpaw carried an unsightly 5.20 FIP in the first half as a member of the Texas Rangers – hardly what I’d consider reinforcements.
But he quickly made me – and a lot of other folks – eat crow. Post-trade, Hamels made a dozen starts for Chicago, pitching to a 2.36 ERA and even bringing home August 2018 National League Pitcher of the Month honors. Those efforts prompted the Cubs to pick up his $20 million team option for 2019 – a steep price the front office hoped would pay dividends.