It is no secret that the Chicago Cubs have discussed trading their ace Jeff Samardzija since the beginning of last season. Any number of contending teams would like to have him in its rotation despite his losing record of 19-32 as a Cubs starter. It is that 3.85 ERA that gets the attention, especially his 2014 ERA of 2.77 coming into play on June 14.
Samardzija has allowed four or more runs only twice in his 14 starts although they have both come in very recent outings: eight runs in three innings to the Brewers on June 1 and four runs in six innings to Pittsburgh on June 12. Removing these two games gives him an ERA of 1.76. Obviously, we cannot just make those two games disappear, but it does show the dominance with which Samardzija has pitched this year.
The Chicago Sun Times‘ Gordon Wittenmyer reported several teams interested in trading for Samardzija with the Braves, Mariners, Marlins, and Blue Jays among the top candidates. Cubs team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer would certainly ask for a steep price in terms high-ranked prospects in return to go along with their rebuilding plan. Samardzija is under team control until 2016, but he is eligible for arbitration after this season ends. He will certainly command a hefty raise from his $5.35 million that he will make this year.
In addition, Wittenmyer also states that the Cubs have received offers from the Mariners for starter Jason Hammel. Although Wittenmyer did not disclose his source, he did say it is a Major League source. Hammel has re-surged in Chicago this year: 6-4, 2.81 ERA through June 14 after a career record of 49-59 and 4.80 ERA from 2006-2013. He is especially good at home this year: 3-0, 2.20. Even on the road, he has a 3.20 ERA but fails to get run support, leading to his 3-4 record.
Fans can understand having to trade a good player for high prospects, but just when does re-building start turning into building? The young Cubs will need veterans to help them learn to play in the Major leagues. Samardzija is 29, and Hammel is 31 — both at the right age of normally best talent for a few more years. Getting the best in return is key, but at some point, the Cubs will need that veteran presence to become a sustainable winning team. If they keep trading away the present for the future, then will that future ever arrive? Cub fans have waited long enough.
PHOTO CREDIT: voices.suntimes.com
