The Chicago White Sox pulled off Part 2 of their pitching staff coup Tuesday, trading for starter Jeff Samardzija in a deal with the Oakland Athletics.
The move comes on the heels of the White Sox signing former New York Yankees closer David Robertson via free agency Monday.
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“Being a Chicago guy, that’s one of the craziest things I’ve thought about,” Samardzija said Tuesday after Oakland dealt him to Chicago’s South Side. “I’m sitting here thinking, ‘Now, do I really have to go get my cleats on and go play for the Bears?’ If I could skate, maybe the Hawks. My jumper’s garbage, so the Bulls are out of the question.”
Samardzija, the third major player dealt by the Athletics during an offseason roster purge, likely will be placed in the White Sox rotation behind staff ace Chris Sale and in front of Jose Quintana. Chicago also received minor league pitcher Michael Ynoa in the deal.
“I think we’re going to be the most competitive rotation in the league, and I mean that internally,” Samardzija said. “The best starting rotations are made when there’s three or four guys that want to be the best and they want to go out there and clinch that three-game series or win that Sunday sweep game.”
The White Sox sent infielder Marcus Semien, right-hander Chris Bassitt, catcher Josh Phegley and first baseman Rangel Ravelo to the A’s.
“Jeff is one of the elite right-handed starting pitchers in baseball, and we believe his addition to our roster gives us the potential for a formidable starting rotation,” White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said in a statement. “His competitiveness fits well in our clubhouse, on the mound and in our city.”
Samardzija moved into the Chicago Cubs’ rotation in 2012 and has gone 26-42 as a starter with a 3.86 ERA. He went a combined 7-13 last season with a 2.99 ERA with the Cubs and A’s. He was 5-6 in 16 starts in the American League, posting a 3.14 ERA.
He is expected to make between $9 million and $10 million in 2015, his final year of arbitration eligibility. The former Notre Dame wide receiver will be a free agent after the 2015 season.
Samardzija wasn’t so sure he would want to miss free agency.
“You’re so close to it, you really want to experience it,” he maintained. “But like I said before, when the situation’s right, it’s right. When the numbers are right, they’re right.”
White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton took to Twitter to express his excitement over the team’s acquisitions.
Doug Padilla of ESPNChicago.com and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
