In lieu of Jeff Samardzija finally picking up his first win of the 2014 season and his first in as many as 16 starts dating back to last season, I think it's only fitting to talk about where he might end up come July 31st.
Before we get any further I just want to mention that Samardzija's win-loss record far from represents the pitcher who he really is, and all of baseball knows it. Before his first win, through nine games this year (0-4) Samardzija has posted an unbelievable 2.3 WAR, third best in the National League for starting pitchers. Though it seems highly impossible, the young right-hander had an MLB leading 1.62 ERA to go with his goose egg in the win category. These are historic numbers we're talking about here.
Jeff Samardzija and the Cubs always seemed to be the perfect fit. He's a northern Indiana sports hero, having grown up a midwest suburb and starred as a wide receiver for the fighting Irish at Notre Dame. Not to mention he's a hard throwing ace with no prior injury history - the perfect pitcher for Theo Epstein and company... but the timing just isn't right.
Even though his contract isn't up until after 2015, Samardzija is turning 30 in the off-season and won't be getting any younger. He want's to win, and unfortunately the Cubs prospects are still a ways away from completing the Chicago Cubs franchise turnaround.
Will Samardzija be foolish to leave Chicago this close to their rebuild? I guess time will tell, but one thing is for certain... the right-handers trade value right now is probably as high as it ever will be in a Cubs uniform.
Here are a list of teams I believe can realistically meet Theo Epstein's trade demands and end up with Samardzija this year;
1) New York Yankees
As frustrating as it is to admit, the Yankees do indeed have a burning desire to acquire starting pitching. With Ivan Nova out for the year with tommy john, Michael Pineda struggling with shoulder soreness, and C.C. Sabathia on the shelf with knee stiffness, the pitching staff is in complete disarray. The good news for the Yankees is that they actually have trade bait. Dellin Betances, who been as dominant as anyone in baseball in the set-up role and a healthy Manny Banuelos makes an intriguing trade package for any team in baseball. The Yankees also have a nice stash of young talent that includes Luis Servino, John Ryan Murphy, Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge, and Tyler Austin.
2) Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto, who currently sits atop the AL East have been linked to Jeff Samardzija for quite some time. They too have a number of compelling prospects, including young hurlers Aaron Sanchez and Marcus Stroman.
3) Boston Red Sox
You can't mention the Yankees in trade rumors without mentioning their counterparts up in Massachusetts. Though pitching isn't the Red Sox big issue, Clay Buchholz and Felix Doubront may have peaked last season, leaving them with a hole in the rotation to plug. Prospect wise, the Red Sox are pretty stacked with the likes of Anthony Ranaudo, Matt Barnes, and Hank Owens.
4) Seattle Mariners
Why? Well the pressure on Seattle to win, and to win now is extremely high. Unfortunately for them, their currently sitting in fourth place in the AL West and to nones surprise, certain staff members of the Seattle Mariners are definitely on the hot seat. Jack Zduriencik may pull the plug and offer a package around top prospect Tijuan Walker. The good news for everyone else in baseball is that such a move would bow the Mariners out of the David Price sweepstakes.
5) Oakland Athletics
Billy Beane - the man, the myth, the legend, has compiled quite the starting rotation out in Northern California with the likes of Sonny Gray, Jesse Chavez, and Scott Kazmir. Unfortunately for the A's, these three aren't Barry Zito, Mark Mulder, and Tim Hudson of the Moneyball era and it's no secret at all that the current A's rotation has been significantly hurt by the season-ending surgery to Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin. Samardzija can provide the A's with the sudden boost they need to finish the 2014 season strong and bolt them back into playoffs. Though they might not have the high-end prospects that other teams have, Billy Beane always finds a way.
The MLB Hot Stove has officially began to heat up.
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