Levine: Jeff Samardzija Knows He May Be First To Go
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The harsh reality of a team underachieving is that valued players must change uniforms. Such is the case when you observe the 2015 White Sox and the unenviable situation they have put themselves in by playing so poorly in the first half.
One player who will more than likely be an ex-White Sox player will be Jeff Samardzija. The sad reality of him being traded for another player or two is based on his pending free-agent status coming up this November.
The likable Indiana native has been through the rigors of teams changing direction three times in a year. He was dealt to the Oakland Athletics last July 4 by the Cubs, then shipped to the White Sox in December for four players.
This month could see Samardzija playing for his fourth team in just more than 12 months.
"To say you don't think about it would not be honest," Samardzija told me. "Things come and go, it is hard to avoid the possible trade talk, because people are always talking about it. You do your best as a professional to go start to start. I believe I have done that, but of course anything can happen. I have been traded twice in a year, so you know the drill."
The slow start to the season for Samardzija has reversed itself. He's gone at least seven innings in nine of his last 10 starts, and the difference has been command of his slider, as well as throwing more split-finger pitches as of late.
Earlier in the season, teams were sitting on Samardizja's fastball in the first couple of innings. That put him in an early hole, causing more stressful appearances. Changing the eye level of the opposing hitters has been a mini-revelation as of late.
His history of being traded has Samardzija prepared for whatever may happen over the next three weeks, before the non-wavier trade deadline expires July 31.
Samardzija is 5-4 with a 4.33 ERA for the season.
"Last year with the Cubs, I knew I was going to get dealt," he said. "They were in rebuild mode. I was at a different stage than that. The Oakland trade took me by surprise. Being a glass-half-full guy, I took it as the White Sox really wanted me. There are a lot of different ways you can look at it."
Samardzija knows the business of baseball means you are traded out of circumstances as opposed to not being liked. The White Sox have little choice but to move him, unless they get back into the race before the All-Star break.
The 30-year-old Samardzija is making $9.8 million in 2015. That's down to about $4.9 million as of today, with half the season in the books. Samardzija will be looking for a five-year-plus deal as a free agent. He has averaged 200 innings pitched and nearly 200 strikeouts the last three seasons prior to 2015.
Those numbers will be sure to make the annual average of his next contract $20 million-plus.
"You learn at this point of a baseball player's career these things like getting traded tend to happen," he said. "You understand the way the business game is played. You play this game because you love to do it, and at some point it doesn't matter what the jersey you are wearing … You go out and compete and have fun. The rest is in other peoples' hands."
The White Sox know time is running out on their team staying together. Unless Chicago wins five or six games this week, the trading of assets will begin with Samardzija at the front of the line.
"We have some time," the confident Samardzija said. "Obviously, we don't have the time we had a couple of months ago. There still is time to show what this team can be like hitting on all cylinders. Hopefully we can stay together and do some cool things."
The White Sox could decide on keeping Samardzija, getting a sandwich pick (after the first round) in the June amateur draft in 2016. That would be weighed against getting help immediately in a trade.
"My concentration is really better than ever because of all the changes I have had with different coaches and teammates," Samardzija said. "It just helps you justify what you do and what you do right."
The entire American League East is considered players for Samardzija's services, as is Houston. Toronto has been the most proactive team scouting him the last 30 days. The Blue Jays were a runner-up for Samardzija in 2014, before he was moved to Oakland.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.