to set up one final restart with one lap remaining. Power

CHICAGO -- Just days after winning the World Series, the Chicago Cubs said goodbye to a key regular season component when they declined the $12 million option on starting pitcher Jason Hammel?for 2017, the team announced Sunday.I want to thank Jason for all of his contributions in his almost three seasons as a Cub, team President Theo Epstein said in a press release Sunday. He was an effective, reliable starter the entire time he was a Cub, and this year he was an integral part of one of the best rotations in club history. We would not have been in a position to win the World Series without Jasons terrific performance during the regular season.A source familiar with the situation told ESPN.com that the team gave Hammel the option to decide if he wanted to return in 2017 or test free agency in a very attractive market for starting pitchers.?When we agreed with Jason on this two-year contract back at the 2014 winter meetings, the option was included with the intent that it would be exercised if Jason was going to be a Cub in 2017, Epstein said. The intent was never to exercise the option and then trade Jason, so we will not consider that path. 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.Hammel, 33, went 15-10 with a 3.83 ERA in 2016, but was left off the playoff roster after a bit of a second-half fade partly due to an elbow issue. He went 1-3 in September and October with an 8.71 ERA. But he helped the Cubs get off to a fast start, going 6-1 in April and May, including a 0.75 ERA in the first month of the season.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, Epstein said. 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.Lefty Mike Montgomery is most likely to benefit from the move as he came on strong after the Cubs acquired him in a midseason deal with the Seattle Mariners. Montgomery appeared in 17 regular-season games and 11 postseason contests, starting five games overall. He earned his first career save in Game 7 of the World Series, but from day one the Cubs have discussed using him as a starter in the future. Manager Joe Maddon has raved about Montgomerys stuff, especially a nasty curveball which is effective against both righties and lefties.Hammel was re-signed by the Cubs before the 2015 season after they traded him in 2014 as part of the deal that brought shortstop Addison Russell to the Cubs from the Oakland Athletics. Hammel will get a buyout of $2 million and can sign with any team beginning at 12:01 am Tuesday morning. Ivica Zubac Jersey . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. Custom Los Angeles Clippers Jerseys . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. https://www.clipperslockerroom.com/ . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark". Lou Williams Clippers Jersey . - Levi Browns tenure at left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers is over before it even began. Terance Mann Clippers Jersey . The Islanders dealt Thomas Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens after less than a year on Long Island. Meanwhile, the Oilers dealt long-time sniper Ales hemsky to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a third-rounder in 2015. TORONTO -- Will Power used pit strategy to grab his third victory of the season and close in on Team Penske teammate Simon Pagenaud in the race for the IndyCar championship.Powers victory Sunday on the temporary road course at Exhibition Place was his third in four races, and he was second last week at Iowa. He has closed the gap on Pagenaud to 47 points in the standings, and the two are tied for the most wins in IndyCar this season.Were definitely closing the gap and weve got to keep pushing, man, the Australian said. If we can close that gap going into (the season finale) Sonoma, we can do this. We can win this championship, absolutely.He noted that Scott Dixon snatched the IndyCar title away from teammate Juan Pablo Montoya last year with a strong late surge all the way through Sonoma.As long as its mathematically possible, you should never give up, Power said. Dixon has been the example of that year after year. He said to me the other day, with six to go, he was 90 back. Just shows you how quickly that can change.Power pitted on Lap 57 of 85 for his final stop of the race and moments later, defending race winner Josef Newgarden crashed when he ran over the curb in Turn 5. It brought out a caution and ruined the race for pole-sitter Scott Dixon, who had dominated up to that point.Because Dixon -- along with Pagenaud and five others -- had yet to pit, they were behind Power and stuck in traffic when they did make their stop.It was a late call, Power said. I couldnt believe I came down pit lane and saw the yellow lights come on. I was so stoked to see yellow lights. Its not often you catch a yellow like that.We ran the top three all day. Had a fast car. Its very difficult to pass, so it was going to be a pit stop sequence if youre gooing to get by anyone, or a restart.ddddddddddddDixon led 56 laps but couldnt recover from having to pit under yellow and finished eighth. His plight earned sympathy from runner-up Helio Castroneves.Sometimes not the fastest car wins the race, said the Brazilian. It makes the level of everyone better. One day its going to play on your side, another day its not going to be on your side.A caution with four laps remaining -- first Jack Hawksworth hit a tire barrier, and in an unrelated incident, Juan Pablo Montoya hit the same barrier -- to set up one final restart with one lap remaining. Power got a great start to pull away from teammate Castroneves to give Penske a 1-2 sweep.Castroneves rallied from an early flat tire to finish second.We are never giving up, especially now, he said. We are not giving up.Toronto native James Hinchcliffe finished third for his first career podium at his home race.As we were coming to the last restart, I saw everyone come to their feet and hoped I didnt screw it up, Hinchcliffe said of the home crowd support.Newgarden crashed to set up the race-deciding pit sequence and finished last in the 22-car field. The American was coming off a dominating victory last week on the oval at Iowa despite a broken right wrist suffered in a crash at Texas in June, and he appeared to aggravate his injury on the contact with the wall on Sunday.The Iowa victory had pushed Newgarden to second in the standings behind Pagenaud, but his frustrating weekend dropped him to fifth in the standings leaving Toronto.Pagenaud finished ninth -- his eighth finish of ninth or better through 11 races this season. ' ' '