Jason Hammel
RP FA
Sat 3/23/19 3:37 PM

Hammel announced Saturday that he will retire from professional baseball, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
EDGE Analysis
Hammel's decision is a surprising one after the Rangers informed a day earlier that he would break camp with the big club as a long reliever. Rather than as a result of any dissatisfaction with his projected role, Hammel opted for retirement after determining that spending more time with his family was a greater priority at this point, according to general manager Jon Daniels. The 13-year veteran wraps up his career with a 96-114 record and 4.62 ERA across 377 big-league appearances (298 starts).

Jason Hammel
RP FA
Fri 3/22/19 12:54 PM

Hammel was told Friday he'd made the Rangers' Opening Day roster, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
The Rangers have yet to officially add Hammel to the 40-man roster, but that transaction should be coming some time in the next few days. Hammel expected to open the season in the bullpen, but he has 298 starts under his belt so far in his big-league career, and he could be one of the first pitchers called upon should injures strike the Rangers' injury-prone rotation. The 36-year-old posted ERAs of 5.29 and 6.02 in the last two seasons while calling the pitchers' paradise of Kauffman Stadium home, so expectations should be low for him this year at hitter-friendly Globe Life Park.

Jason Hammel
RP FA
Sat 3/16/19 9:34 AM

Hammel said he will not go to the minors if he doesn't make the Rangers' roster, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports. "I certainly won't go to Triple-A," Hammel said after firing four scoreless innings Friday. "This is a grind. If it requires me to go home, I know my family is waiting for me and has been for a while. I'm more than willing to go home and spend time with them."
EDGE Analysis
Hammel's allowed just one run on on four hits and two walks while striking out 10 over 8.2 Cactus League innings. The Rangers already have a projected rotation, so Hammel could stick around as a long reliever/spot starter, and he could be the first option should one of the three starters coming back from Tommy John elbow surgery falter.

Jason Hammel
RP FA
Tue 3/5/19 11:19 PM

Hammel made his debut for the Rangers, throwing two scoreless innings in Tuesday's game against Oakland.
EDGE Analysis
Hammel signed late in the offseason and is behind others at this stage, though manager Chris Woodward told T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com that he has time to compete for a job. Hammel has made 298 career starts and is being stretched out in camp, but Woodward said he's competing for a spot in the Rangers' bullpen.

Jason Hammel
RP FA
Fri 2/1/19 3:11 PM

Hammel signed a minor-league deal that includes an invitation to spring training with the Rangers on Friday.
EDGE Analysis
Hammel spent the last two seasons in Kansas City but the Royals declined his option in October, making him a free agent. The 36-year-old struggled with 5.59 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and allowed 44 home runs over 307.1 innings. The veteran right-hander will undoubtedly be looking for a bounce-back season if he can manage to crack the Opening Day roster.

Jason Hammel
RP FA
Tue 10/30/18 3:58 PM

The Royals declined Hammel's option for 2019.
EDGE Analysis
Hammel, who posted a combined 5.59 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 6.9 K/9 in his two seasons with the Royals, would have been due $12 million in 2019, so Kansas City's decision to buy the veteran out for $2 million comes as no surprise. Entering his age-36 season, Hammel doesn't figure to draw much interest as a free agent given his recent struggles.

Jason Hammel
RP FA
Sun 7/8/18 4:01 PM

The Royals moved Hammel to the bullpen ahead of Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Manager Ned Yost elected to pull the plug on Hammel as a starter after the right-hander was touched up for eight runs in just two innings during Friday's loss to the Red Sox. Since the beginning of June, Hammel has gone 0-6 with an 8.03 ERA and 1.95 WHIP over 37 innings in his seven starts. Reliever Burch Smith will move into the rotation while Hammel presumably settles for a mop-up role out of the bullpen.

Jason Hammel
RP FA
Sun 6/24/18 7:43 PM

Hammel (2-9) allowed nine runs (seven earned) on six hits and five walks across four innings while taking the loss Sunday against the Astros. He struck out three.
EDGE Analysis
Hammel endured a nightmare second inning in which he allowed eight runs on four hits, three walks, and a catcher's interference, with the big blow coming on a grand slam from Yulieski Gurriel. He put multiple men on base again in the fourth, allowing an unearned run on a throwing error before escaping without further damage. This disastrous outing was a bit of a disappointment for Hammel, who'd allowed three earned runs or fewer in five of his previous six starts. He'll take a bloated 5.34 ERA into his start next weekend against the Mariners.

Jason Hammel
RP FA
Tue 6/19/18 11:39 PM

Hammel (2-8) took the loss Tuesday, allowing four runs on nine hits and four walks while striking out four over 5.2 innings against the Rangers.
EDGE Analysis
Hammel wasn't able to fool Texas hitters, inducing just five swings and misses en route to walking a season-high four. The 35-year-old seemed to be turning a corner of late with a 2.56 ERA over his previous five starts entering Tuesday, so the nine-hit, four-run showing was a bit of a setback. He now sports a 4.98 and 59:25 K:BB over 90.1 innings heading into Monday's makeup game against the Angels.

Jason Hammel
RP FA
Sat 6/2/18 10:21 PM

Hammel (2-5) did not factor in the decison for Saturday's win over the Athletics, allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings. He struck out three and issued two walks.
EDGE Analysis
Hammel was strong through six innings Saturday, but came out for the seventh inning only to give up a 417-foot home run to Bruce Maxwell to end his afternoon. The 35-year-old has allowed four runs over his last three starts (18.1 innings), generally looking much better than through his first six weeks of the season. Hammel is expected to take the hill against Oakland again Wednesday.