5 months ago, the Cubs shipped pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to the A’s.  As of yesterday, both were back in Chicago, as Hammel signed a free agent deal to rejoin the Cubs and Samardzija was traded to the White Sox.  The south siders also bolstered their bullpen, signing free agent closer David Robertson, late of the Yankees, while the Cubs looked to improve behind the plate by acquiring catcher Miguel Montero from the Diamondbacks.

Jeff Samardzija comes to the White Sox, along with minor league pitcher Michael Ynoa, in exchange for Marcus Semien, Chris Bassitt, Josh Phegley and minor league first baseman Rangel Ravelo.  Samardzija will slide in to the White Sox rotation between ace Chris Sale and Jose Quintana, giving the Sox a rotation that should match up with any other in the American League.

At the other end of the game, David Robertson, who has agreed to a 4-year, $46 million deal pending a physical, should bolster a bullpen that was one of the worst in the game this past season.  By having a lock down closer in place, along with the earlier signing of Zach Duke, the returning younger members of the bullpen should find themselves in less stressful and better defined positions, which should enable them to be more successful.

On the north side of town, Jason Hammel signs a 2 year, $18 million deal, with a team option for a third year.  He originally signed with the Cubs last off-season, and put up an 8-5 record with a 2.98 ERA before the early July trade to the A’s.  Hammel struggled with Oakland as the A’s fell out of first place and missed the playoffs, and seems to be hapy returning to the National League and the Cubs, where he was very comfortable during his brief time there.

There will be a new receiver behind the plate catching Hammel this season.  The Cubs acquired Miguel Montero from Diamondbacks for minor league pitchers Jeferson Mejia and Zack Godley, likely signaling the end of the Wellington Castillo era.  The 31 year old catcher, who has 3 years left on his deal, is a 2 time All-Star and a career .264 hitter.

Both Chicago teams came to the Winter Meetings looking to improve themselves and, over the course of the past few days, they have done just that.