Which Trade Possibilities For Jeff Samardzija Make Sense For Cubs?
In the latest episode of the Chicago Cubs soap opera What is Happening with Jeff Samardzija This Week, the Cubs decided to make a last-ditch effort to keep their best pitcher. They made him a five-year, $85 million contract. He did not accept it.
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Samardzija is looking for something similar to what Homer Bailey got from Cincinnati, which was $105 million. That is his STARTING POINT.
With the two sides far apart on numbers, it appears that the Cubs are forced to look to trade Samardzija. The Cubs still need quite a few pieces, so where could they trade him to that would make the most sense for the Cubs (and possibly for Samardzija, yet that is not a priority for the team)?
Things are heating up in the American League East. The Blue Jays, Orioles Yankees and Red Sox are all within earshot of each other, and in a division with big names, teams will do what they can to get the edge.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays and Cubs have been in a stalemate as of late. The Blue Jays have good, young arms in their system and the Cubs need to get some of them. Six of the Blue Jays’ top prospects are pitchers. They have Aaron Sanchez, who ranks 32nd in Baseball America’s Top-100 list. There is also Marcus Stroman, who ranks 55th and made his major league debut earlier this month. The Cubs are said to also be interested in center fielder Dalton Pompey.
As I said, there is a stalemate at the moment, but as the trade deadline inches closer, the Blue Jays, who haven’t been to the playoffs since winning it all in 1993, may blink.
Kansas City Royals
With the Royals finally in a pennant chase, they may feel the need to go for it this season. When the Cubs were in Miami last week, high level Royals scouts were there, possibly looking at Samardzija. They have Yordano Ventura, a top prospect who is 4-5 with a 3.20 ERA and 63 strikeouts so far at the major league level. The Royals have some talent, but a few of their prospects are injured, and some, like Raul Mondesi Jr.(shortstop), play a position the Cubs have covered already.
Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles have been in talks with the Cubs concerning Samardzija. Their top four prospects- Dylan Bundy, Kevin Gausman, Eduardo Rodriguez and Hunter Harvey– are all pitchers. Bundy, though, is recovering from elbow reconstruction surgery, so he is off the board. Gausman has had brief stints in the majors since he got drafted in 2012.
Of course, the Cubs could decide to keep Jeff Samardzija and go through this again next season. His value, however, is at its highest right now. So far this season, in 103 innings, he has a 2.53, with a 1.19 WHIP and 97 strikeouts. Of course, pitching for the lowly Cubs, his record of 2-6 does not reflect how well he has pitched. He is having a breakout season, one that will most likely end with him wearing another team’s uniform.