What It Means:

After the tragic death of Yordano Ventura, the Royals were looking for starting pitching help, and Hammel was the best of what was left on the market. The 11-year veteran was coming off a 15-win season with the World Champion Chicago Cubs but was allowed to leave after he struggled to an 8.91 ERA in four September starts.

Hammel has had a solid, yet unspectacular career, but has stepped up his game recently with a 35-28 record and a 3.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 8.3 strikeout rate per nine frames in his last three seasons.