MLB rumors: 5 trade targets for the Houston Astros

3. Jeff Samardzija, SP, San Francisco Giants

Madison Bumgarner and Will Smith are the popular trade targets on the Giants’ pitching staff, due at least in part to their expiring contracts on a team that should be selling. But let’s not forget about Samardzija, who’s making $19.8 million this year and next.

On Monday night, Samardzija had his best outing of the season against the San Diego Padres (eight innings, two runs on five hits, six strikeouts and two walks). He had allowed at least four earned runs in each of his previous three starts, but he has gone at least five innings in 14 of his 17 starts (with three earned runs or less allowed in nine of those 14).

Samardzija can eat innings, he won’t put a ton of extra guys on base via walks (2.7 BB/9 for his career and so far this year) and he strikes out just enough batters to mostly avoid the randomness of batted balls (7.7 K/9 this year).

The Astros don’t necessarily need a top-of-the-rotation arm. If the Giants are willing to eat some of Samardzija’s remaining money, a deal could very well get done