Despite reaching the postseason again in 2014, the Oakland Athletics’ front office is continuing its offseason fire sale that has already seen Brandon Moss and Josh Donaldson dealt. According to multiple reports, the team is close to dealing right-hander Jeff Samardzija to the Chicago White Sox.
Sources: #WhiteSox close to acquiring Samardzija from #Athletics. @JonHeymanCBS and @JeffPassan were on it.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2014
Even with the reports indicating that a deal appears imminent, Susan Slusser, who covers the Athletics for the San Francisco Chronicle, says the team is not expected to announce any type of deal on Monday night, meaning the baseball world could be waiting overnight for any official news on the deal that would send the former Notre Dame football standout back to the Windy City, where he began his career as a member of the Chicago Cubs.
In exchange for Samardzija, Oakland is expected to receive infielder Marcus Semien and a package of prospects in return, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan. It should be noted that after the 2015 season, the right-hander will reach free agency, although the White Sox may be able to sign him to an extension given his history with the city of Chicago and the fact that he grew up rooting for the South Siders.
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Last season, Samardzija got off to a red-hot start with the Cubs, the team that drafted him in the fifth round of the 2006 draft. With the Cubs’ anemic offense early in 2014, coupled with a dismal relief corps, the lanky righty went just 2-7, but rolled to a 2.83 ERA, 1.204 WHIP and 3.09 FIP in 17 starts before being dealt to Oakland in a midseason deal that also saw his teammate, Jason Hammel, head west in exchange for a package headlined by Athletics prospect Addison Russell.
Following the trade, Samardzija was just as dominant, with a 0.931 WHIP and 3.30 FIP in 16 starts with the Athletics. However, he never received a postseason start after the team fell in a marathon American League Wild Card Game to the Kansas City Royals.
Semien broke onto the scene in 2013 with Chicago, but took a step backward last season at the dish, batting just .234/.300/.372 in 64 games. The other prospects involved in the deal are unclear at this point, but high-level talents, including Tim Anderson or Francellis Montas, are off-limits, according to reports.