Lock up the American league West
Old-Timer
Senior Member
WASHINGTON The Cubs are making a Fourth of July blockbuster.
The Cubs traded Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to the Oakland As, according to sources familiar with the situation, giving the team that already has the best record in baseball two starters who have been pitching at an All-Star level.
An industry source described shortstop Addison Russell and outfielder Billy McKinney Oaklands first-round picks in 2012 and 2013 as centerpieces to the deal. The Cubs are also said to be getting Dan Straily, a 25-year-old right-hander who went 10-8 with a 3.96 ERA in 27 starts for the As last season.
Baseball America ranked Russell and McKinney as the top two prospects in Oaklands farm system heading into this season. The Cubs will add them to a deep pool of position players headlined by Kris Bryant and Javier Baez already performing in the minor leagues.
[MORE CUBS: Frustrated Jason Hammel calls out Cubs over pitch-count limits]
While the sell-off had been anticipated for months, the Cubs acted quickly and decisively before the July 31 deadline.
Samardzija was the longest-tenured player on the team, a Chicago guy who had been on the 2008 team that won 97 games and seen the franchises boom-and-bust periods. The two sides found no common ground in more than two years of discussions about a long-term contract extension.
After trying to win a World Series for Billy Beanes As, Samardzija can become a free agent following the 2015 season, intending to test the market and get paid like a frontline starter.
Samardzija had been scheduled to face the Washington Nationals on Saturday, while Hammel complained about getting pulled in the seventh inning of Fridays 7-2 victory at Nationals Park, exposing some of the tension between the clubhouse and Theo Epsteins front office.
The Cubs traded Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to the Oakland As, according to sources familiar with the situation, giving the team that already has the best record in baseball two starters who have been pitching at an All-Star level.
An industry source described shortstop Addison Russell and outfielder Billy McKinney Oaklands first-round picks in 2012 and 2013 as centerpieces to the deal. The Cubs are also said to be getting Dan Straily, a 25-year-old right-hander who went 10-8 with a 3.96 ERA in 27 starts for the As last season.
Baseball America ranked Russell and McKinney as the top two prospects in Oaklands farm system heading into this season. The Cubs will add them to a deep pool of position players headlined by Kris Bryant and Javier Baez already performing in the minor leagues.
[MORE CUBS: Frustrated Jason Hammel calls out Cubs over pitch-count limits]
While the sell-off had been anticipated for months, the Cubs acted quickly and decisively before the July 31 deadline.
Samardzija was the longest-tenured player on the team, a Chicago guy who had been on the 2008 team that won 97 games and seen the franchises boom-and-bust periods. The two sides found no common ground in more than two years of discussions about a long-term contract extension.
After trying to win a World Series for Billy Beanes As, Samardzija can become a free agent following the 2015 season, intending to test the market and get paid like a frontline starter.
Samardzija had been scheduled to face the Washington Nationals on Saturday, while Hammel complained about getting pulled in the seventh inning of Fridays 7-2 victory at Nationals Park, exposing some of the tension between the clubhouse and Theo Epsteins front office.
Comments
Unbelievable trade- 5 of the top 25 pitchers now their rotation. fabulous bullpen and best closer.
Come on A's!
We will see how long it takes for the Angels to figure out what Wilson is doing to tip his pitches.
Think the A's had the division anyway but don't think this trade is a blockbuster.
I like Hammel, he cut his teeth in the AL and has shown he can compete. He wasn't great in the AL but I think a 1.20ish whip and mid-upper 3 ERA is what he will bring them and fill in the middle/back of their rotation. Samardjiza on the other hand, has been awful in his interleague games. It's a different style and many career NL pitchers have struggled when going to the AL. His home park should help. Everyone seems to love him. I'm neutral. He has good stuff but people act like he is Wainwright. I remember his start last year against the Angels. He fooled no one, pretty much like all his starts vs the AL(well except Houston).
Every year when Oakland has a very good team, they always fizzle out in the playoffs, even going back to the Mulder-Hudson-Zito days. They have had some realy good teams, but for whatever reason their regular season success hasn't translated to the post-season. Maybe this year will be different, we'll see.
Pretty much agree with all of this. Assume this sends Chavez to the bullpen which means hammell is taking his spot. Not a huge upgrade there if any similar pitchers. I think Oakland with a bad farm system and so many of their players becoming expensive/free agents in 2-3 years know this is their shot and they were going to be awful in 2017 anyway. Amazing trade for the cubs.
Actually Tommy Malone got sent down. I know some on here thought he was equal to our #1. Not so much.
Kane, yeah just hasn't translated in the playoffs. Maybe this is the year.
Lastly glad to hear Verlander thinks so highly of himself and his team that he thinks the trade was made for the Tigers. He should worry more about his era then the A's transactions. (yes I know he owns the A's)
Late add, so what do the Cubs do with Castro now that they have the best SS prospect ?
Yeh was surprised to see it was milone considering their recent body of work and the fact that Chavez has already thrown more inning this year then has in in his last 8 years of pro ball.
Brad mills
Hopefully Parker and Griffin come back next year.
Speaking of the A's , watch for this guy Stephen Vogt, man he can rake and play multiple position including catcher, future looks pretty good.
I can't stand these A's announcers. Man they're terrible.
Correct.
I think Ken Kurach was an announcer here for the LV AAA team. Not a Scully for sure.
I don't mind the Play by Play guy much. But the other guy doesn't shut up for second and says some stupid shit.
Maybe I had the contract backwards.
Not great announcers but no where as bad as the Yankees announcers, I was traveling and had to listen to sterling and the lady, omg that might be the worst in the history of man kind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIBLI7jepwE
edit: let me try to find the tape when he inferred to Bill White that all blacks look alike. He gotta mulligan on it.
OT bill king and Lon Simmons best I ever heard. IMO
Mel Allen
Ernie Harwell
Harry Kalas
That's just three and tell me who's going to replace these guys? Hasn't happen yet.
I use to listen to these guys on my short wave radio static and all picking up the Phillys and Tiger games sweating a bet.
Jack Buck (SLou)
Bob Prince (Pit) more of a homer character
By Saum (Phl) low dramatic voice. Mighta preceded Kalas who I agree was a-1. "This might leave the ballpark"
Lyndsay Nelson NYM and Bob Murphy NYM. Jack Murphy stadium named after his war hero bro.
Chuck Thompson (BLT)
Joe Tate(CLV) was best noted Cav's announcer.
Ueke ( Mil) agree BB
Milo Hamilton ATL not @ Houston
Ned Martin (BOS)
Yes OT, the old breed is tough to replace. Nobody has to mention Vin Scully.
Hawk Hurrelson (white sox) love him when I have a bet on Sox, can't stand him otherwise. Lol
Can't stand him even with a bet on the White Sox. He's at the top of my hate to listen to list with John Sterling 2nd and McCarver 3rd.
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This exactly
I'm with kdog and OT on this one