ESPN’s Buster Olney reports that free agent right-hander Jason Hammel is looking for a three- or four-year deal in free agency. This is an excellent market for starting pitching, with Phil Hughes and Scott Feldman both recently receiving three-year deals, but it’s not that good.
While Hammel was one of the Orioles’ best starters in 2012, he disappointed to the tune of a 4.97 ERA over 23 starts and three relief appearances this past season. The 31-year-old had a stint on the disabled list due to right forearm tightness and saw his strikeout rate drop from 8.6 K/9 to 6.2 K/9.
Hammel figures to draw interest as a buy-low type, but finding a multi-year deal to his liking figures to prove difficult. Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reported earlier this afternoon that the Orioles have interest in bringing him back on an incentive-laden deal.
UPDATE: Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors hears that 12 teams are interested in Hammel. He hasn’t received any offers, but teams have discussed “one-year concepts.”
