Jason Hammel walked into the Cubs' offices, discovered familiar media members, smiled in addition to said, 'I'm back.'

The 32-year-old right-hander officially come back to Chicago on Friday on a two-year deal with a club choice for 2017 after spending the first few months on the 2014 season with the Cubs.

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The commitment is worth $18 million over the 2015-16 conditions, plus $10 million -- or a $2 zillion buyout -- for 2017, according to reviews.

Hammel, who figures to slot into the rotation behind left-hander Jon Lester and right-hander John Arrieta, said returning to the Puppies was his first choice. Lester and the Cubs agreed to terminology during the Winter Meetings with San Diego this week, but that will deal has not yet been officially announced by the club.

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'I knew that this ended up being the place for me and I planned to come back and I knew which i was going to get a real beneficial opportunity,' Hammel said.

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Hammel explained Cubs president of softball operations Theo Epstein told him at the time of his July 4 trade to Oakland that he can make re-acquiring Hammel a top priority. Epstein held in keeping with his word, Hammel said, by calling him on the initially day of free agency.

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'Jason genuinely blossomed here, became the most dominant pitchers in the National Nfl as a Cub, and also provided an enormous clubhouse presence and leadership for us,' Epstein said. 'I consider we're a lot better today getting Jason in the fold and extremely looking forward to him getting on this mound in a revamped turn.'

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Hammel pitched the best ball regarding his career with the Canines in 2014, going 8-5 with a Only two.98 ERA in 17 starts. He also struck out and about 104 batters in 108 2/3 innings and held opponents into a .222 average.

Chicago parlayed that performance, and also Jeff Samardzija, into the blockbuster in which sent the two right-handers to the A's to acquire shortstop Addison Russell, right-hander Dan Straily, outfielder Billy McKinney and a player for being named.

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Hammel was unable to continue his success in Oakland, however, going 2-6 with a Several.26 ERA in 13 games (12 starts).

'I'm definitely not going to make excuses,' Hammel claimed. 'I just didn't get it done the 1st four to five starts.'

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The Cubs believe a return to Chicago as well as pitching coach Chris Bosio may help Hammel regain his 2014 first-half form to be a key part of a team able to live up to burgeoning expectations. The Cubs also acquired left-handed-hitting catcher Miguel Montero with the D-backs and agreed to terms along with Lester.

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Hammel stated he and Lester talked about your Cubs while they were alongside one another in Oakland, but noted, 'I think the Theo-Jon bromance was going to occur, anyway.'

Lester and Hammel will entrance a rotation that also consists of Arrieta and some combination of Travis Wood, Tsuyoshi Wada and also Kyle Hendricks, as the Cubs go from repairing to competing in 2015.

'I are unable to predict the future, but it's likely to be a very dominant rotation,In Hammel said. 'And you win championships along with pitching. Obviously, the criminal offense helps. But all the teams that go, they all have dominant steady pitching.'

Vegas -- A season filled with so much hope and optimism eventually turned into a campaign that still left the Marlins wondering what has been if not for two crushing injuries.

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Watching their ace, Jose Fernandez, a potential Nationwide League Cy Young Award prospect, go down in May impaired the rotation early. Still, the resilient squad stored things interesting until it is NL MVP Award front-runner, Giancarlo Stanton, was arranged in the face with a fastball. Now, using seven games to go, Vegas is limping to the finish brand instead sprinting toward the playoffs.

'It's a big blow,In Marlins president of hockey functions Michael Hill said. 'Without problem, it's a big blow once you don't have your top glass pitcher or your top hitter to finish a season.'

Fernandez and Stanton aren't just two gifted players. They are two franchise-caliber players. When nutritious, they're probably top-five finishers for the Cy Younger and MVP awards.

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Even without their two young celebrities, the Marlins created a culture highlighting that they could compete no matter the obstacles that stood of their way. In many ways they did.

They remained mathematically alive inside the NL Wild Card race until finally Saturday, or with 9 games remaining. They had a true chance to finish above .600 for the first time since 2009. Yet attrition to the roster finally trapped, and the team is 74-81 soon after being swept in a four-game fixed with the Nationals over the weekend.

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'We've attemptedto build the deepest roster we possibly could and create a mindset in that clubhouse associated with no excuses, and next guy up and next man approximately do their job,' Hill said. 'In this game, you can't make logic. You can't speculate. Things happen. Regardless of what happens, you're going to be playing 162 games in a regular season. That will opponent you're facing, they do not do you any favors.'

Vegas's take care of will be tested even more from the final seven games, because center fielder Marcell Ozuna is now out with a high right ankle sprain endured in Sunday's 2-1 loss to Oregon.

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But the crucial blows were Stanton and also Fernandez.

The way the season played out, the actual Marlins felt they could weather currently being without one of their stars. Making it through without both was just too much.

Stanton, who sustained multiple cosmetic fractures after being reach by the pitch on Sept. 11 at Milwaukee, played in 145 games. He very likely will be the Marlins' first NL home run champion. Stanton has 37, but will need to see if anyone makes a overdue push (the Cubs' Anthony Rizzo is minute with 31). The two-time All-Star also knocked in 105 goes, and his slash line found themselves at .288/.395/.555.

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According to Fangraphs.com, Stanton's Struggle is 6.0, and Fernandez had a WAR of 1.Half-dozen.

Fernandez underwent Tommy John surgery inside mid-May, after just eight starts, in which he went 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA together with 70 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings.

The Marlins are usually optimistic that Stanton will be the old self at the start of Spring Training. Fernandez, who will begin their throwing program on Oct. 1, should be back about the All-Star break.

'It's two instances where injuries happen,' Incline said. 'You deal with it. You understand players have come back coming from those injuries. We're confident that both will be back fantastic, with the resolve to help that club win a championship.'

A positive the club is to take out of the trying season is that it must be continuing to build stronger all round organizational depth.

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Fernandez's absence helped lead to the organization acquiring right-hander Jarred Cosart in the Astros in July. In that offer, Enrique Hernandez was obtained. He's currently getting playing time in center field and right discipline with Ozuna and Stanton both available.

'When injuries happen, it's always a way for someone to step up and add and do their part that can help the club,' Hill said. 'I think we all realize in this sport you don't get it done alone. It takes not just a 25-man roster. It takes a 40-man roster. It requires a strong Minor League system to win a world-class. Things happen, and you have to deal with the item.'