AP source: Royals, Jason Hammel agree to $16M, 2-year deal

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Author: Dave Skretta / Source: SFGate

  • FILE - In this Sept. 19, 2016, file photo, Chicago Cubs starter Jason Hammel delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Chicago. The Kansas City Royals and Hammel have agreed to a $16 million, two-year contract, a person with direct knowledge negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, because the deal is pending a physical. Photo: Paul Beaty, ASSOCIATED PRESS / Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals knew at some point they would have to move on from grieving over the sudden and tragic death of Yordano Ventura and address the difficult task of replacing him.

That apparently came when the Royals agreed with right-hander Jason Hammel on a $16 million, two-year contract, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because the deal is pending the completion of a physical.

The 34-year-old Hammel is expected to take Ventura’s place in the starting rotation. The 25-year-old flamethrower was killed last month in a car accident in his native Dominican Republic.

Hammel was 15-10 with a 3.83 ERA for the World Series champion Chicago Cubs last season and has proven to be a workhorse with at least 30 appearances in each of the past three seasons.

He is also intimately familiar with…

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