MLB Rumors: Blue Jays unlikely to acquire Jeff Samardzija
By Josh Hill
The MLB trade deadline is little over a month away and as that date approaches we’re going to start hearing more and more about trades that might be made. Like every year, we can expect to hear a certain number of rumors that end up being completely bunk with only a handful that actually come to fruition.
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Down in Chicago, the Cubs are desperately trying to stay as awful as they’ve always been as they are pushing their best pitcher onto the trade market to see what they can get for him. There has no doubt been interest in Jeff Samardzija, as he’d be lighting it up with anyone that can provide him run support and reports have stated that the Toronto Blue Jays think they might be that team.
According to Jon Heyman from CBSSports.com, the Blue Jays aren’t likely to acquire Jeff Samardzija this season but they’re not completely out of business with the Chicago Cubs. Heyman points out that Jason Hammel is much more likely to be acquired by Toronto than Samardzija.
"The first-place Blue Jays keep getting connected to ace Cubs righthander Jeff Samardzija (it’s been going on for years now, it seems), but the sides have yet to make new proposals, and while the Jays will talk about Samardzija, sources suggest they are ultimately much more likely to trade for Samardzija’s teammate Jason Hammel or another comparable rental starter."
The Cubs will likely trade both pitchers — because they’re the North Siders and of course they will — but only one is likely to be headed north of the border to Canada. The Jays might still up their offer for Samardzija but they are far more likely to land Hammel at a much better price.