The Yankees are likely to pursue righty Jeff Samardzija in free agency, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. He’s viewed by the organization as a competitor who could be had at a nice price given his forgettable 2015 campaign. Of course, the 30-year-old could see interest from a variety of other clubs for the same reasons. He’ll be one of the more interesting players to watch in free agency.
Here are few more AL East notes:
- Red Sox lefty Brian Johnson made one big league start this year, but shortly after was shut down with elbow issues. But he’s back to throwing again, WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford reports, and appears to be structurally sound. “They said my UCL [ulnar collateral ligament] was like I hadn’t even pitched,” Johnson said. “It was really, really good. It was nothing ligament-related.” The hope is that the 24-year-old will be ready for a normal spring. Given his strong results at Triple-A before the elbow difficulties arose, he remains an interesting near-future piece for a team that also has Eduardo Rodriguez and Henry Owens showing promise early in their big league careers.
- Another Orioles right-handed pitching prospect is dealing with early-career injury woes, as Branden Kline had Tommy John surgery yesterday, according to Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com. A second-round draft pick in 2012, Kline missed much of the year as he attempted to avoid the procedure. He pitched to a 3.66 ERA over 39 1/3 Double-A innings on the year before being shut down.
Yes, please go after Samardzija, it will make it easier for Boston to get Price, Zimmermann, or Cueto.
The cubs will go all in after Cueto Price or Zimmermann
Zimmerman makes sense for the Cubs, if his market goes right. He’s not a #1-2 any longer, or border line #2 maybe and the Cubs already have 2 front line starters. Zimmerman would fit right in with an innings eating borderline #2 type, good and solid #3, something that team really needs. They have nothing really beyond Arieta and Lester. Sign Zimmerman, if he can be had for between 100-125m over 5y and then try to find a couple of more guys who can just give the team back end solid innings.. A couple of Wade Miley types.
imo Zimmermann was the nationals best pitcher, and now they are going to lose him in free agency and possibly Strasburg
I like Samardzjia better than Cueto and Zimmerman. Price is going to be one of the highest paid pitchers in baseball he deserves it but I’d rather get 2 guys that help my franchise rather than overspend to get 1.
Still remember when Kline turned down a reported 2m to sign with Boston in ’09 out of HS to attend VA and Boston gave Madison Younginer (taken 1 rd later) nearly 1m after waiting till nearly the deadline waiting on Kline.. Imagine Kline sort of regrets his decision now. Less money, CBA changed when he came out of VA, the injuries piled up and think he had Boras advising him back then, though not positive.
I wouldn’t mind Samardzija at all. I would like to see him reunite with Rothschild and I love his attitude on the mound. Definitely seems like he could handle NY no problem. Money wise, I don’t know what they would offer, but I’d feel OK giving him 5/75. We need someone who can eat up innings too.