Detroit Tigers: 5 Starting Pitching Trade Deadline Targets

By Matt Pelc | Jul 7, 2015

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Jul 4, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija (29) is congratulated in the dugout during the eighth inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Samardzija

The Chicago White Sox traded for Jeff Samardija in his contract year hoping to get a motivated pitcher looking to cash in this off-season. They also hoped that perhaps he would want to stay in Chicago, where he began his career with the cross-town Cubs, went to college at nearby Notre Dame, and grew up close by in Indiana.

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The Detroit Tigers could also use this logic when trading for the 30-year old. He has been an emerging name linked to the team in recent weeks and could be a decent match. With David Price looking more and more like he is headed for the hills, perhaps the Tigers could convince Samardzija to stay at a fraction of the cost of Price.

Samardzija has truly been bi-polar this season. In his last start on Independence Day, he had a late no-hit bid broken up late and ended up allowing just one run on three hits to a potent Baltimore Orioles’ lineup. In his start prior to that he held the Tigers scoreless through seven innings and then began to tire. Perhaps it was more of a managerial oversight by Robin Ventura leaving him in for too long, but before he knew it, he had blown a 4-0 lead and earned a no-decision.

Aside from that inning, his season seems to be trending in the right directions, posting an ERA under three in his last five starts. If you take that one bad inning out of the equation in Detroit, the ERA is closer to 2.00.

One problem with adding Samardzija for the stretch run, and possibly playoffs, is that he does not have much postseason experience, appearing in just one inning as a rookie for the Cubs in 2008.

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