The Chicago Cubs have kicked off trade rumors season in the MLB, as they have started taking calls on pitcher Jeff Samardzija and now names like Jason Hammel, Travis Wood and Edwin Jackson also could be traded this summer, as teams like the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, Oakland Athletics, Miami Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates all could be interested in making deals.
Samardzija comes in as the prize of the bunch and he will be the major piece that the Cubs try and move, as he is developing into a great young starter. Last season he had over 200 innings and 200 strikeouts and now he comes in at just 2-6, but his ERA is 2.77 and he has 82 K's and his record is more about the Cubs than him and he now has a sub 4.00 ERA for his career. Samardzija could be a big get for a team like the Yankees, as they are dealing with tons of injuries in the rotation, or the Blue Jays, as they are in first in the AL east and trying to hold on.
Samardzija would be great for the Yankees, but they likely do not have the prospects for it and that makes Hammel more likely. ESPN.com is reporting that Hammel is a target for teams looking for short term rotation help and he could fit with the Yanks or the Orioles as well as the Athletics as they continue to lead the AL West.
The Cubs have once again opened the season with a struggle and they are just 29-39 and while that is not as bad as some expected, it's not going to win the Central division title. The team is ranked near the bottom of the league in all the major offensive categories, ranking 27th in runs and 28th in batting average and the team is also 23rd in slugging percentage. The pitching has been solid and one reason is Samardzija, who had a crazy low ERA for a while before getting his first win and now the team is ranked ninth in ERA and seventh in BAA.
Wood has been pitching well this season and while Theo Epstein isn't looking to trade him, he could get thrown into a deal if the Cubs want to make major moves at the deadline. The team is on a five year plan and it's still in the baby stages and that is one reason why Wood and Samardzija as well as Hammel have come up in trade talks. Samardzija could be the prize for teams, as he is young enough where they may want to sign him to a long term contract, but old enough where he could be worth dealing up and coming prospects for.
