White Sox, Athletics in trade talks for Jeff Samardzija

August 30, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija (29) pitches the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

There are rumors all over about the Chicago White Sox making a possible trade for Oakland Athletics pitcher Jeff Samardzija, and I would be in favor of it.

A dominant right-handed pitcher like Samardzija is exactly what the White Sox need to break up the left-handers in the rotation. Samardzija would be able to start in between Chris Sale and Jose Quintana, plus all of the pressure wouldn’t be on top prospect Carlos Rodon (LHP) if he makes the 2015 starting rotation.

Last season with the Chicago Cubs and the Athletics, Samardzija had a combined ERA of 2.99 with a record of 7-13, but that record means nothing as he had no run support while with the Cubs in ’14.

In ’14, Samardzija totaled 219.2 innings with 202 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.065. His WAR (wins above replacement) was 1.7. Samardzija walked just 43 batters last season.

For his career (seven seasons), the 29-year old Samardzija has 738 strikeouts and one All-Star game selection, coming last season. Samardzija can become a free agent in 2016.

Jim Benson of The Plantagraph in Bloomington, Ill. tweeted the following on Friday evening:

There was also this tweet from Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle Friday:

If I were to guess if the White Sox were really involved in this type of deal, and knowing they are dealing with the Athletics, my guess would be Dayan Viciedo would be in this deal. I would guess Conor Gillaspie as a possibility as well, since he did hit for .284 last season, and most likely some of the White Sox prospects, since it looks like the White Sox are in a win-now type of mood.

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All of this is honestly a guessing game, but would the White Sox have to give up a player like Alexei Ramirez for a pitcher like Samardzija?

Managing editor of The Chicago Sun-Times, Craig Newman, had this tweet on Saturday:

All of this said, all of this is just speculation until a deal actually happens for the right-handed pitcher. Until then, we’ll just have to wait and see what the White Sox do, but so far, they’ve been making the correct moves this offseason.

This should be fun to keep track of.