Can Jason Hammel Bounce Back From Second-Half Slide?

33-year-old Jason Hammel is coming off a roller coaster 2015 campaign that saw him start strong before spiraling downhill in the final three months of the season. Now entering his 11th year in the majors, he finds himself at a crossroads. With possible free agency awaiting him next offseason, does he have what it takes to produce? The first half of Hammel’s 2015 season was solid, as he posted a 5-4 record with a strong 2.86 ERA, striking out 105 batters in 103.2 innings. Right before the All-Star break, however, he suffered a knee injury. Although he was able to continue pitching in the second half, he simply wasn’t the same, again posting five victories, but recording a 5.10 ERA. He couldn’t get through five innings in five different starts and only made it through six innings twice. His postseason numbers weren’t any better in four innings of work, as he gave up seven runs and three HR against the Cardinals and Mets combined. Can you trust Hammel this season? Well, he’s definitely been making adjustments, hiring a new trainer and focusing on his lower body strength in anticipation of quite an important season for him. As a fifth starter, Hammel doesn’t have to be incredible. As a matter of fact, another 10-win season would be solid. At least it appears he knows what he has to do to recover from his second-half slide last year. Spring training will be an important sign as to how he’s recovered, but we won’t really know for a while. Hammel's best-case scenario currently figures to be a last-round pick, perhaps not even that. This’ll be one to monitor through the season in case a pickup is needed.