Pittsburgh Pirates Free-Agent Watch: Jason Hammel

The Pittsburgh Pirates returned to the playoffs for the second straight season in 2014, but they were quickly bounced by the eventual World Series champion San Francisco Giants.  

In 2015, however, it would be difficult to pick the Pirates as a legitimate postseason contender unless general manager Neal Huntington goes out and signs two more proven starting pitchers.  

As both Edinson Volquez and Francisco Liriano may be pitching for another team in 2015, the Pirates will have to come up with a solution to bolster their starting rotation that currently consists of hurlers Gerrit Cole, Jeff Locke and Vance Worley.  

One free agent Huntington may want to consider offering a contract to is right-hander Jason Hammel.

The 32-year-old Hammel pitched brilliantly with the Cubs in 2014, posting a 2.98 ERA through 17 starts before being traded to the Oakland Athletics before the trade deadline.  

After the trade, Hammel struggled on the mound, owning a 2-6 record and a 4.26 ERA in 12 starts with the Athletics.  

Still, his 3.47 ERA overall was the second-best season of the veteran's nine-year career.  More importantly, he has proven that he can pitch in the National League Central Division, earning eight victories with a Cubs team that struggled to score runs.  

Given his age and current performance, it is difficult to see Hammel demanding a relatively low-paying contract, as he will likely look for at least a three- or four-year deal that will take him into his late thirties.  

What is more important here, though, is the fact that the Pirates will need help in their rotation this season and perhaps next season as well.  Even if they get two solid seasons out of Hammel, by 2017 we should see the emergence of top prospect starters Tyler Glasnow and Jameson Taillon.  

The 21-year-old Glasnow has pitched brilliantly in both the 2014 regular season as a member of the Bradenton Marauders and in the Arizona Fall League.  

In 23 starts with the High-A Marauders, Glasnow went 12-5 with an ERA of just 1.74.  

Meanwhile, Taillon will be coming off Tommy John surgery in 2015, but according to Baseball America, he was ranked the No. 1 prospect in the Pirates system entering the 2014 season.  

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

By 2017, and perhaps even earlier, we should see both pitchers begin to blossom as major league starters in the Pirates rotation.  

So, while Hammel would be 36 at the end of a four-year contract, it may be worth it to sign him for what he can give them right now, which is a stellar starting pitcher in the middle of that rotation.  

The Pirates are set up for greatness in their starting rotation within the near future, but for now they will need at least another quality arm on the free-agent market, and Jason Hammel could provide them with that insurance.  

*Statistics courtesy of Baseball Reference