MLB Trade Rumors: Blue Jays putting together package for Jeff Samardzija

Chicago Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija reacts after giving up a 2-run home run to Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez (not pictured) in the seventh inning at Miller Park. Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

According to Bruce Levine of WSCR 670 the Score in Chicago (h/t Bluebird Banter for sharing) a source has said that the Toronto Blue Jays are “putting together a package of young players” for Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija.

This is hardly the first time that Samardzija’s name has been mentioned in connection with the Blue Jays but this seems to at least further indicate that the club is in fact interested in 28-year-old pitcher shown as the Shark.

Samardzija is a hard-throwing right-hander that throws a four-seam/sinker combination both at around 95 MPH according to Brooks Baseball. He’s a strikeout pitcher that was good for exactly one K per inning this year and his career 4.19 ERA is bettered by his 3.94 FIP and 3.82 SIERA.

The question for Blue Jays fans however is most likely who could be involved from the Jays side? Could Aaron Sanchez or Marcus Stroman be in play? The Shark has two more years of team control but with baseball becoming a young man’s game it would be a steep price to pay in my opinion if the Blue Jays had to part with either potential stud.

That being said, the Cubs aren’t exactly going to give Samardzija away either so if the Jays do have hopes of landing him it’s very possible one of the two could be in play. And there’s that whole thing about Alex Anthopoulos trying to keep his job, which makes some wonder if the future will be further sacrificed to win now.

Anyways this could be a whole lot to do about nothing but then again maybe there could in fact be something here.