Rumors are already circulating as to which team will acquire Chicago Cubs ace Jeff Samardzija. The San Francisco Giants are said to be one of the most interested among the bunch.
In a report by Fansided, Theo Epstein is expecting a lot in return for the growing interest in the pitcher. The Cubs are said to also be working out possible deals that involve Jason Hammel, which may compromise or improve their overall roster. The Giants on the other hand, think that Samardzija may further strengthen their already strong rotation. Experts think that it would be a good move and the Giants would fully dominate in their division.
The San Francisco Giants have been victorious in two out of four World Series outings, especially because of their powerful pitching lineup. Recently, pitchers Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum have been showing signs of slowing down. However, the strong offense of the team made up for the loss and gave the team the best record in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Although Samardzija himself seemed intent to move out of the Cubs after failing to come into terms and finalize a contract, Hank Shulman, a local beat writer in San Francisco, said that the Giants may not actually be interested in the ace. He said, "I've heard the exact opposite than Nightengale about Samardzija, that barring injury #sfgiants have no plans to adjust rotation."
Some of the challenges that the Giants currently face include dealing with a high payroll and the need for a new second baseman. The team is also planning to remove Ryan Vogelsong or Tim Lincecum from the rotation. Acquiring Samardzija will require them to increase their budget or let some players go, as well as risk the effects of adding the ace to their already formidable lineup.
According to a report by NBC Sports, Samardzija has a 2.77 ERA, 1.176 WHIP and 82 strikeouts in 92 innings in the 14 times he started in the 2014 MLB season. The 29-year-old ace made $5.35 million for the 2014 season. Should Samardzija opt to be part of the Giants, he will be playing alongside Madison Bumgarner, Tim Hudson and other pitchers. The Cubs on the other hand, are planning to focus on younger pitchers to improve their game.
Other teams who are most likely aiming for Samardzija include the Yankees, Blue Jays, Angels, Orioles and Red Sox. Many fans speculate that he might go for the New York Yankees if a deal with the Giants does not pan out.