Dein erstes Forum » Shinji Okazaki and Christian Fuchs

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs declined Jason Hammels $12 million option for next season, opening a spot in their rotation and making the right-hander one of the top starters on the free-agent market.The World Series champions announced the move Sunday. Hammel gets a $2 million buyout.While Jason is healthy and primed to have another effective season in 2017, we have decided to consider other internal and external options for our starting rotation next year, President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein said in a statement. Our hope is that by giving a starting opportunity to some younger pitchers under multiple years of club control, we can unearth a starter who will help us not only in 2017 but also in 2018 and beyond.The 34-year-old Hammel went 15-10 with a 3.83 ERA in 30 starts this year. The 6-foot-6 right-hander is 33-22 with a 3.59 ERA in 78 starts over two stints with the Cubs.Hammel did not pitch in the postseason. The Cubs got left-hander Mike Montgomery in a July trade with Seattle, and he could replace Hammel in the rotation.Hammel first signed with the Cubs in February 2014. He went 8-5 with a 2.98 ERA in 17 starts before he was traded to Oakland in the deal that sent shortstop Addison Russell to Chicago.The pitcher re-signed with Chicago in December 2014, for $20 million over two years.The option was included with the intent that it would be exercised if Jason was going to be a Cub in 2017. The intent was never to exercise the option and then trade Jason, so we will not consider that path, Epstein said. Instead, Jason will have the opportunity to enter free agency coming off an outstanding season and the ability to choose his next club. Meanwhile, the organization gains some flexibility and the opportunity to use a rotation spot to develop a younger, long-term starting pitcher.Montgomery was on hand when the Cubs were honored at Sunday nights NHL game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars. Montgomery, right fielder Jason Heyward and slugger Kyle Schwarber, along with team owner Tom Ricketts and a couple of Cubs executives, brought the World Series trophy to center ice, and the players posed with a W flag as the crowd roared its approval.Retiring catcher David Ross, fresh off his appearance on Saturday Night Live, later joined the group and got a big ovation when he was shown on the videoboard holding the trophy.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap Joel Hilgenberg Jersey . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. John Carney Jersey . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. http://www.customsaintsjersey.com/custom-mark-ingram-jr-jersey-large-1192e.html . Despite dominating possession, Schalke needed an own goal from Nicolas Hoefler for the breakthrough a minute before the interval. The Freiburg midfielder misjudged Jefferson Farfans corner and bundled the ball into his own net. Vonn Bell Jersey . -- Linebacker Myles Jack ran for four touchdowns, defensive end Cassius Marsh caught a scoring pass, and No. Bobby Hebert Jersey . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate. LEICESTER, England -- Leicester finally managed to transfer its Champions League form to the English Premier League, beating Crystal Palace 3-1 thanks to goals by strikers Ahmed Musa, Shinji Okazaki and Christian Fuchs on Saturday.Fuchs brilliant 80th-minute strike capped only a third win of the champions disappointing title defense, the Austria left back smashing a diagonal drive into the corner from the edge of the area at King Power stadium.Musa struck a low shot into the corner from outside the penalty area to put Leicester in front in the 42nd minute, before Okazaki swept a low, first-time finish inside the near post to double the lead in the 63rd.Yohan Cabaye scored Palaces consolation in the 85th.Leicesters unbeaten run at its Kinng Power stadium stretched to 20 league games, with this win adding to home victories over Swansea and Burnley this season.ddddddddddddThe champions away form has been the main problem, having lost to promoted Hull and also by a three-goal margin to Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea.Its been a different story in Leicesters first-ever season in the Champions League: The team has won all three of its group games to move to the brink of qualifying for the last 16.Jamie Vardy, one of the stars of Leicesters title triumph last season, started on the bench after a recent groin problem. He came on in the 75th. ' ' '