When talking about the Chicago Cubs over the past decade, names like Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Javier Báez dominate the conversation. But while these stars grabbed headlines, several underrated players quietly played crucial roles in the team’s success.
Whether it was a clutch hitter, a steady reliever, or a back-end starter, these unsung heroes made a bigger impact than they often got credit for. In this post, we’re shining a light on some of the most overlooked Cubs of the last ten years—players who may not have made All-Star teams or won MVPs, but who were instrumental in keeping the North Siders competitive.
RHP Jason Hammel
Right-hander Jason Hammel played for the Cubs in a time where the starting rotation saw historic success, and he often gets left out of the conversation due to the prowess of Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks. I'm, of course, talking about the 2016 rotation, where Hammel served as the fifth starter for the World Series-winning team.
But even if you consider him the "innings-eater" of the group, Hammel still had a fantastic season. In his age 33-season, Hammel was remarkably healthy, throwing 166 2/3 innings in 30 starts, with a 3.83 ERA and 1.4 bWAR. His high FIP (4.48) suggests that Hammel got a lot of help from the Cubs' All-star-studded defense.
But it wasn't just 2016, as Hammel served in Chicago's rotation for half of 2014 and all of 2015 as well, garnering a cumulative 3.56 ERA while pitching in a Cubs uniform. The first half of 2014 also saw the tall righty pitch well enough to become a valuable trade chip, and he was sent to the Oakland Athletics alongside Jeff Samardzija in exchange for future All-Star shortstop Addison Russell.
Although he wasn't good enough to warrant a spot on the postseason roster in 2016, Hammel still played a large role in sustaining the Cubs' success in the mid-2010s. He seemed to like pitching at Wrigley as well, as he signed a two-year deal with the Cubs even after getting traded by the team a couple of months prior.
LHP Cole Hamels
In the twilight of his impressive playing career, 35-year-old Cole Hamels was sent to the Chicago Cubs at the 2018 trade deadline in exchange for starting pitcher Eddie Butler and a pair of minor leaguers who never made it to the big leagues. The seasoned veteran and former World Series champion gave the Cubs a much-needed boost to the starting rotation down the stretch after the Tyler Chatwood debacle. After inking a $38 million contract with Chicago, Chatwood was ineffective virtually from the jump, posting a 5.30 ERA in 24 appearances (20 starts) in 2018.
Hamels provided a stabilizing presence, with a 2.36 ERA in 12 starts, good enough for a 2.3 bWAR in just 76.1 innings. Although the Cubs were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, Hamels helped the 2019 team secure their fourth straight postseason berth.
The southpaw stuck in the rotation for all of 2019 as well, with a respectable 3.81 ERA in 27 starts. For the minimal trade package the Cubs sent to the Rangers for Hamels, he paid off in a pretty big way to help the team while they were still enjoying a competitive window.