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Schierholtz Staying With Cubs

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29-year-old Cubs right fielder Nate Schierholtz is one of the better bats on the trade market.  He deserves credit for his strong work this year against right-handed pitching, but it's also a weak market for bats.  Schierholtz is under team control for 2014 as an arbitration eligible player, and MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz suggests a salary in the $4.2MM range.  33-year-old center fielder David DeJesus is another candidate to be moved today; he comes with a $6.5MM club option for 2014.  DeJesus recently returned from a shoulder sprain. The latest on that pair as well as the Cubs' other trade chips…

Earlier Cubs Updates

Cubs Won’t Trade Samardzija

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The Cubs have determined they aren't going to get the required blockbuster package for righty Jeff Samardzija, writes Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Heyman echoes a weekend report from Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times that stated the Cubs will once again try to extend Samardzija this winter.  Should that fail, "a trade will become much more likely," according to Heyman.

Samardzija, 28, has a 3.75 ERA, 9.1 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, 0.94 HR/9, and 48.5% groundball rate in 144 innings this year.  Those are solid numbers, and he has the repertoire of an ace, but so far Samardzija's control hasn't taken a leap forward as it appeared earlier this season (in fact, it's been worse than last year).  The Cubs control Samardzija for two more years after 2013.

For his part, Samardzija told Wittenmyer that he's content to let his performance dictate his earnings: “My numbers and what I do on the field will, I guess, implicate myself in a way. And that’s all I want. Just to win.” Samardzija added that he's been reluctant to discuss long-term value to this point due to his limited big league experience as a starter.

In my opinion, Samardzija's floor would be the five-year, $55MM deal signed by Matt Harrison in January this year, with the possibility of aiming for the five-year, $80MM range deals signed by Felix Hernandez and Justin Verlander before the 2010 campaign.  Though Samardzija doesn't have the Cy Young votes or career innings those aces did at the time, four years will have passed since they set the bar for starting pitchers in the four-to-five service class.  Good pitchers with four years service rarely avoid multiyear extensions to that point, but Samardzija signed a $10MM deal out of the draft and has earned more than $15MM in total, perhaps reducing his willingness to choose the financial security of a team-friendly pact.

Cubs Notes: Schierholtz, Russell, Gregg, Villanueva

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The Cubs have plenty of trade chips remaining, but time is running out to deal them as tomorrow's 4pm ET deadline looms. Here's the latest…

  • The Pirates remain interested in Nate Schierholtz, writes Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com. Concerns surrounding his shoulder cause the Bucs to switch gears to Alex Rios a few weeks back, but Schierholtz has demonstrated his health with strong play of late. Earlier today, Buster Olney of ESPN tweeted that Schierholtz is likely to be traded.
  • Levine also reports that James Russell was nearly acquired by the Braves last week, and he's now drawing interest from the Reds. The Braves have since acquired Scott Downs to fill the left-handed void in their bullpen.  Russell had a rough outing in the first game of today's doubleheader, allowing a three-run home run to Khris Davis plus two other hits and a free pass.
  • Schierholtz and Kevin Gregg are the two Cubs most likely to be dealt prior to tomorrow's deadline, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Time reports. The Pirates and Tigers are scouting the Cubs' series with the Brewers, with the Bucs looking for outfield help and the Tigers on the hunt for bullpen help.
  • The Blue Jays have also been scouting the Cubs for the past week, according to Wittenmyer, but that's likely because they're looking to add pieces for 2014.
  • Wittenmyer adds that Carlos Villanueva isn't likely to be traded, as the Cubs value his versatility and cheap contract as they look to shuffle the roster again in 2014.

Angels, Padres Eyeing Ian Kennedy

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5:53pm: Arizona's main motivation in moving Kennedy would be to free up some cash to accommodate Jake Peavy's contract, writes Danny Knobler of CBS Sports (which meshes with reports from earlier today). Jack Magruder of FOX Sports Arizona was told by an Angels source that there's no match for Kennedy a few days ago, though he notes how quickly that line of thinking can change (Twitter link).

MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez spoke with a scout from an NL West team who said that Kennedy's stuff is still good. The Halos like Kennedy as a buy-low candidate, according to Gonzalez.

It seems odd that the Diamondbacks would be motivated to move Kennedy's remaining $1.4MM, though they could be focusing more on ways to fit Peavy's 2014 salary into the payroll. Despite his poor season, Kennedy would earn a raise on his $4.27MM salary next year, so clearing him from the books would be a more significant benefit in that sense. Arizona is also reportedly shopping Jason Kubel, who is owed roughly $2.7MM for the remainder of the season.

4:49pm: Earlier today, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports wrote that the Angels could be interested in landing D'Backs right-hander Ian Kennedy, as Halos GM Jerry Dipoto is a former Diamondbacks executive who is very familiar with Kennedy. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports now tweets that the Angels are "hopeful" of landing Kennedy, whom the D'Backs have been shopping recently. Steve Gilbert of MLB.com adds that the Padres are also interested in Kennedy (Twitter link), and Buster Olney of ESPN lists the Cubs as a potential landing place as well (on Twitter).

Kennedy, 28, is a buy-low candidate in the midst of his worst full season at the Major League level. Through 119 innings for the D'Backs, he has a 5.22 ERA with 7.6 K/9, 3.4 BB/9 and a 36.2 percent ground-ball rate. Each of those represents the worst full-season mark of Kennedy's career. Kennedy is owed roughly $1.4MM over the remainder of the season and can be controlled through 2015 as an arbitration-eligible player.

Stark On Howie Kendrick, Cubs, D’Backs

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ESPN's Jayson Stark begins his latest column with a look at the Biogenesis situation.  As Joel Sherman of the New York Post first reported, suspension announcements are not expected today.  Sherman expects the announcements to come Thursday or Friday.  In Stark's opinion, the Rangers are acting like a team that knows what Nelson Cruz will do if suspended, in that their aggressive search for a bat suggests he might serve a suspension now to preserve his free agent value.  Meanwhile, the Tigers' lack of pursuit of a backup plan to shortstop Jhonny Peralta suggests he'll appeal.  Elsewhere in Stark's column:

  • The Dodgers and Angels, who haven't made a trade in 20 years, had a "mostly casual conversation" regarding Halos second baseman Howie Kendrick.  There are no indications a deal is in the works.
  • The Angels are at least listening on infielders Kendrick, Erick Aybar, and Alberto Callaspo, and seeking high quality big league ready pitching in return.
  • The Cubs could move Kevin Gregg and Nate Schierholtz, but are extremely unlikely to trade lefty reliever James Russell and there's just about zero chance of a Jeff Samardzija trade.
  • Pitchers Ian Kennedy and J.J. Putz of the Diamondbacks and Kyle Farnsworth of the Rays "have suddenly been made available."  Trading Kennedy would allow Arizona to clear around $1.4MM toward another move.  Are they that hard up for cash?

Rockies Have Had Interest In Gregg

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Though Cubs closer Kevin Gregg seems a near-lock to be traded by tomorrow afternoon's deadline, we've heard little in the way of specific teams linked to him.  However, the Rockies have had interest in Gregg, reports Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post today.

The Rockies have "been prepared to act as a buyer and seller" as they sit 6.5 games out in the NL West, according to Renck.  That explains their interest in bolstering the bullpen despite a willingness to listen on Josh Outman.  Renck adds that while the Rockies are unlikely to trade injured closer Rafael Betancourt, it hasn't been ruled out.  The 38-year-old is "slowly recovering from an appendectomy," writes Renck.

Cubs Notes: Schierholtz, Samardzija, Gregg

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The Cubs have been baseball's most active team on the trade front, and they seem likely to make another move or two, even after dealing Matt Garza, Scott Feldman, Scott Hairston and Alfonso Soriano. Here's the lastest regarding the north side of Chicago…

  • Nate Schierholtz is the most likely piece to be traded next, a league source tells Jesse Rogers of ESPNChicago.com. Schierholtz has told agents Scott Leventhal and Damon Lapa to inform the Cubs he's happy in Chicago and would like to stay. He adds that he doesn't follow trade rumors and accepts that he has no control over what management does. The Rangers and two or three other teams have shown interest in Schierholtz of late, according to Rogers.
  • The asking price on Jeff Samardzija is "higher than the Sears Tower," according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The Cubs are essentially asking that teams let them take what they want from their farm systems. While the Diamondbacks have shown interest, several other teams have made offers as well.
  • MLB.com's Carrie Muskat writes that Kevin Gregg would be happy to return to the Cubs even if he's dealt before Wednesday's deadline. Gregg offered high praise for the coaching staff, his teammates, the city of Chicago and the organization as a whole. Unlike Schierholtz, Gregg enjoys following the rumor circuit and the transactions wire.

Central Notes: Royals, Cubs, Cardinals

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What's motivating the Royals' decision not to be sellers at the trade deadline? Danny Knobler of CBS Sports suggests that, for the Royals, it's not so much about making the playoffs. Despite a six-game winning streak, that remains unlikely, as Kansas City is still just .500 and seven games behind the Tigers in the AL Central. Instead, Knobler reports that the Royals are motivated merely by a desire to finish the season on a good note. The Royals' winning season in 2003 was their only one since 1994, and it appears they may simply be hunting for another a decade later. That's not to say they're pure buyers, though — Knobler notes that the Royals would like to acquire more talent at the deadline, but they're looking for players they can control in 2014.

  • Starting pitcher Travis Wood says the Cubs' recent series of trades has helped them bond, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports. "I always feel trades make teams closer, because you see guys moving. Especially trading away a leader like (Alfonso Soriano). It kind of pulls us together. We have to lead this thing and do everything we can to win ballgames," Wood says. The Cubs recently completed a sweep of the Giants.
  • Building a roster with the postseason in mind isn't all it's cracked up to be, argues Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Since postseason series are short, anything is possible. Miklasz points to unlikely heroes from past Cardinals postseason runs (So Taguchi, Anthony Reyes and Jeff Weaver in 2006, Pete Kozma in 2012) to show that the postseason is too unpredictable for the ideal playoff roster to be worth worrying about.

Cubs Listening On Jeff Samardzija

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The Cubs are listening on offers for Jeff Samardzija, but the asking price is "high as expected", a source tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter).  The forward-thinking Cubs aren't likely to part with the promising young hurler, but they're at least open to the idea of getting blown away by an offer.

Samardzija, 28, is controlled through the 2015 season and has two remaining years of arbitration eligibility.  The right-hander and the Cubs have explored an extension in the past, but he recently said that he hasn't given a new contract much thought.

The Notre Dame product is enjoying another strong campaign for the Cubs, posting a 3.94 ERA with 9.1 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 through 21 starts.  The Diamondbacks were said to have a great deal of interest in Samardzija as well as Yovani Gallardo in late June.

Reactions And Analysis: The Alfonso Soriano Trade

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Earlier today, Major League Baseball approved a trade that sent Alfonso Soriano to the Yankees in exchange for right-hander Corey Black. The Cubs will pay $17.7MM of the remaining money on Soriano's contract, leaving the Yankees responsible for just $6.8MM. Here's some media reaction and analysis of the move…

  • Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com says that the acquisition of another aging outfielder isn't enough for a "pieced-together" Yankees team. Soriano is an improvement on Vernon Wells, Knobler writes, but even with Soriano and the return of Derek Jeter, the Yankees' lineup still isn't a strong one, and C.C. Sabathia's recent struggles are worrisome as well.
  • Dave Cameron of Fangraphs writes that the $7MM savings alone makes this a good move for the Cubs, pointing out that they signed Scott Feldman for less than that this offseason. The move helps the Yankees as well, he adds, noting that replacing Vernon Wells with a decent player is an upgrade. Cameron goes on to state that while the Yankees are paying Soriano to be exactly what he is ("a useful role player"), the Yankees aren't one useful role player away from making the playoffs, and they're starting to collect a lot of modestly priced, low-value players.
  • ESPN's Buster Olney (Insider required) broke down the reasons why the trade is questionable for the Yankees but also the reasons that it makes sense, noting that the Yankees are just 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot in the American League.
  • Scott Miller of CBS Sports opines that Soriano gives the Yankees some desperately needed power, noting that the club has received a staggering total of just one right-handed home run since May 23 — a span of 767 at-bats. While Soriano isn't the player he once was, he provides the Yankees with the trait that they are most lacking.
  • Baseball America's Matt Eddy offers an analysis of each player in the trade, noting that Black has one of the best arms from the Yankees' 2012 draft class, but that questions about his size might make a relief role his best path to the Majors.

Charlie Wilmoth contributed to this post.

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