Jason Hammel, happy and healthy during the team’s commercial filming Friday, received further peace of mind today, signing a two-year, $7.75-million contract. Because he was a “Super Two” in terms of service time, Hammel will have one arbitration season remaining in 2013.
Hammel went 10-9 with a 4.81 ERA last season. At times he was the Rockies’ best starter last season. He strung together a 28 1/3-scoreless inning streak, the third longest in franchise history.
Hammel, who made $1.9 million last season, has been working out this offseason in Rhode Island, throwing to starting catcher Chris Iannetta.
He projects anywhere from the club’s third to fifth starter this season. The advantage of signing a multi-year deal is two-fold: the club gets cost certainty and the player receives a guaranteed deal (regular arbitration contracts are only partially protected).
Hammel struggled with a dead arm in September, but has had no setbacks this winter in his throwing program. He told that cholesterol medicine might have contributed to the muscle pain in his arm. He has since weaned himself off it.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
