Chicago Cubs Rumors: Team “will surely” pick up Cole Hamels option

According to Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports, the Chicago Cubs “will surely” pick up Cole Hamels $20 million option, rather than utilize his buyout.

Aligned with the thinking of most who follow the Chicago Cubs, Fancred Sports’ Jon Heyman offered his two cents on the team’s forthcoming decision regarding veteran left-hander Cole Hamels.

"“The Cubs will surely pick up the $20-million option on Cole Hamels rather than buy him out for $6 million.”"

If Chicago, for whatever reason, decided to buy out Hamels, they themselves would not be on the hook for the $6 million. The Texas Rangers, the team that traded the lefty to Chicago this summer, would pick up the tab, instead.

With a tremendous need in the starting rotation given the uncertainty not only in the fifth spot in the staff and the questions surrounding Yu Darvish‘s health, keeping Hamels in the fold makes a lot of sense.