Count the Toronto Blue Jays in on talks around pitcher Jeff Samardzija.
FOX Sports reports that the Blue Jays sent pro scouts to watch Samardzija’s recent start saying “The Jays are interested enough that they’ve scouted him extensively this season. Their pro scouting director, Perry Minasian, attended his start Monday at Wrigley Field.”
Samardzija has turned down offers from the Chicago Cubs for extensions beyond the 2015 season which has made him a prime candidate for a mid-season trade.
The problem with a deal getting done is that the Cubs may be the only people in baseball who value the right handers talents as much as him and his agent.
Jon Paul Morosi says that the Cubs want a package of Triple-A right-hander Aaron Sanchez, Double-A left-hander Daniel Norris, and Class-A center fielder Dalton Pompey for Samardzija. In the offseason they asked for outfielder Jason Heyward from Atlanta.
For his part the 29-year-old Samardzija is having the best year of his career posting a 2.53 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP to go with a 97/31 K/BB ratio in his 16 starts.
The Blue Jays figure to acquire a starting pitcher before the July 31 trade deadline but who it is could largely be based on what they have to give up.
