SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- For Cole Hamels, joining the Cubs at last season’s Trade Deadline was a dose of adrenaline that, as it turned out, had a restorative effect on what had been a subpar season with the Rangers. Hamels enjoyed the energy that came with joining a winning team midstream, and he thrived off of it, posting a 2.36 ERA and 182 ERA+ in 12 starts.

This spring, it’s a bit of a different vibe for Hamels, who pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings in the Cubs’ 8-0 win over the Giants on Saturday afternoon at Scottsdale Stadium. The surge of the swap having run its course, this Cubs camp is the true settling-in process with a club that was happy enough with his contributions to pick up his $20 million club option for 2019.

Hamels has been in this position before, having been traded to the Rangers in the fourth year of his eight-year deal, and he said the first spring with a new club has its benefits.

“It is nice to get into the system and the routine of what camp is and what guys are trying to do,” he said. “You have guys that are speaking, and you build camaraderie with each other out on the field, playing catch, the drills, the weight room. You’re able to focus on the whole goal as a team. It’s a nice feeling.”

Hamels hopes to parlay that nice feeling into a nice season. He hasn’t done much reflecting on things that went wrong for him in Texas last year, when he had a 4.72 ERA in 20 starts. Clearly, the switch to a more pitcher-friendly home park benefited Hamels, who had taken at battering at Globe Life Park. But Hamels also had a slight fastball velocity dip early in ’18 that improved over time.

The benefit of springing back to life with the Cubs is that it makes it easier for Hamels to put the ugly parts of his 2018 season behind him.

“I think I’ve forgotten about it,” he said. “In this game, you tend to forget about the bad starts and bad outings, and something that’s 9-10 months ago, I’m not really focused on anymore. I don’t think I even look at the video, so it’s not something I need to be aware of. It’s a new season, new things I’m working on, and I’m just sticking to that.”

Hamels, who allowed three hits and two walks with three strikeouts on Saturday, was pleased with his latest tuneup.

“It’s just being able to get out there and knowing I get at least four up and downs. That’s something to build off of,” he said. “You get over that 50-pitch mark, you add the warmup pitches before the game and you’re getting into that 100 throws. That’s good for the body to get the reps.”

Cubs make cuts

The Cubs made their first Cactus League cuts on Saturday. None of them affect the expected composition of the Opening Day roster.

Right-handers Adbert Alzolay and Jen-Ho Tseng were optioned to Triple-A Iowa, while right-hander Oscar De La Cruz (currently on the restricted list in the midst of an 80-game suspension) and left-hander Justin Steele were optioned to Double-A Tennessee.

Among the non-roster invitees, pitchers Duncan Robinson, Ian Clarkin, Alberto Baldonado, Craig Brooks, Carlos Ramirez and Colin Rea; catcher Ian Rice; and outfielders Charcer Burks, Evan Marzilli and Jacob Hannemann were all assigned to minor league camp.

Another non-roster invitee, right-hander Rob Scahill, was granted his release.

Worth noting

• Outfielder Mark Zagunis, the Cubs’ No. 25 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was scratched from an early version of Saturday’s lineup for the split-squad against the Giants because he had been hit on the left hand by a pitch Friday. The injury was not considered serious. Zagunis has made an impression on manager Joe Maddon with his approach at the plate.

“He’s trying to hurt the ball,” Maddon said. “He’s not just up there trying to move it or accept the walk. This is the kind of stuff we’ve heard about him.”

• Right-hander Alec Mills was a late scratch from Saturday’s split-squad start against the Angels due to back tightness. He was replaced by right-hander Duane Underwood Jr., who allowed a solo homer in his one inning of work.

• Recently acquired reliever Brad Brach's early spring schedule was affected by a bout with mononucleosis, but Maddon doesn’t anticipate any issues with regard to Brach being ready for the start of the season. Maddon also doesn’t anticipate any issues with Brach settling into the committee approach the Cubs will have in the back end of their bullpen.

“He’s open to anything, and he’s versatile,” Maddon said.

Up next

A division tilt is on tap for the Cubs on Sunday in Maryvale, where right-hander Kyle Hendricks will make his third start of the spring opposite Brewers right-hander Corbin Burnes.