Should the Chicago Cubs trade their ace Jeff Samardzija? This discussion is not new, but it is still enticing. The Cubs are likely on their way to another last-place finish in the National League Central. As play begins on May 24, the Cubs are 17-29 (.370), 10.5 games out, and on pace to finish the 2014 season with a record of 60-102. Team management insists that the losing is all part the plan to let their very young talent develop in the Minor Leagues and have them ready to compete for years to come beginning in or before 2016.
How does Samardzija fit into the discussion? He is not only the staff ace but, so far, one of the best pitchers in all of baseball this season. Samardzija leads the Major Leagues in ERA among qualified pitchers at 1.46 after 10 starts. He has allowed 11 earned runs in 68 innings pitched. The problem is that he has not won a single game. Offense, defense, and the Cubs’ bullpen — or lack thereof in each — have let him down. Here is where the discussion becomes a little more personal. If I had a say, would I trade or keep this pitcher?
Reasons to keep Samardzija
Jeff Samardzija is 29 years old, and he is just now entering his prime as he is in just his third year as a full-time starter. Since 2012, he has a record of 17-30, less than impressive, but an ERA of 3.71 and WHIP of 1.260, both quite impressive. In addition, in today’s market, he will make $5.345 million this year. He will get a very nice raise through arbitration next offseason, but the Cubs still have him under team control next year. He becomes eligible for free agency in 2016.
In addition, the Cubs’ farm system is talented but raw. Only Travis Wood from the current Major League roster appears as part of the team’s long-term plans as guys like C.J. Edwards, Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler, and Javier Baez continue to develop, so the young Cubs will need an established veteran to mold them as they learn to play and win in the Major Leagues if and when that happens. Samardzija knows Wrigley Field and the Cubs’ fan base, having pitched for the Cubs since 2008.
Reason to trade Samardzija
So far, team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer have had a very difficult time trying to sign Samardzija to a long-term deal. With the hefty salaries that other pitchers such as Justin Verlander, Clayton Kershaw, Felix Hernandez, and Masahiro Tanaka have received in the past two years, Samardzija may look to cash in as much as possible for as long as possible. He is nowhere near the elite status of these stars, but if former teammate Matt Garza can get four years and $52 million dollars, then Samardzija should have the same opportunity or better come 2016. Garza put up numbers in his two and a half years with the Cubs from 2011 to mid-2013 a little better than Samardzija’s: 21-18, 3.45 ERA, and 1.213 WHIP in 60 games.
The Cubs have brought back tremendous Minor-League talent by trading away both position players and pitchers at the trade deadline in each of the past two seasons. The most notable to go are Garza in 2013 and Ryan Dempster in 2012; both went to the Texas Rangers. The Cubs received Edwards and third baseman Mike Olt from Texas in return for Garza last year. If they cannot sign Samardzija by the end of this coming offseason, then they need to trade him to get as much as possible in return rather than losing him to free agency for a mere draft pick after next season.
Should they trade him now?
Epstein and Hoyer should continue to do all they can to re-sign Jeff Samardzija to a three -year contract extension through 2018. Doing so would show Cub fans the commitment to winning that they promised when they took the helm in December, 2011. Cub fans are tired of seeing a last-place team, and they want those young guns to come up ready to win as soon as possible. The Cubs will need some veterans as well, and Samardzija, the home-grown staff ace, can help the Cubs get over the hump when that time arrives. The Cubs should definitely not trade Jeff Samardzija.
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