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Dodgers Rumors: Clay Buccholz And Jeff Samardzija Being Considered

Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Due to injuries the Los Angeles Dodgers are in the market for starting pitching, hoping to add at least one proven starter before the July 31 trade deadline. Team president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman recently affirmed the focus is on adding pitching depth.

With the deep pockets, the organization has naturally been linked to top-of-the-line starters such as, Johnny Cueto, Cole Hamels, and David Price. The Dodgers were also recently linked to New York Mets left-hander John Neise.



While it is possible they land one of those big names, the Dodgers certainly need to also have a back-up plan in case they don’t. According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, that may be in the form of Clay Buchholz of the Boston Red Sox or Jeff Samardzija of the Chicago White Sox:

Jeff Samardzija, RHP, White Sox — Teams are tempted but don’t know what to make of him because of his 4.53 ERA and struggles this season. His affordability as a rental and the fact that he’s not a No. 1-caliber starter in the eyes of most scouts but a good second or third guy in a rotation make him worth looking at. But the White Sox likely wouldn’t receive a great return. That’s why the same teams looking at Clay Buchholz are looking at Samardzija — the Royals, Tigers, Twins, Blue Jays, Yankees, Cardinals, Orioles, Angels, and Dodgers.

Samardzija, who signed a one-year, $9.8 million deal with the White Sox in the offseason has underperformed this season. The former All-star is 5-4 with a 4.56 ERA while striking out 88 in 108.2 innings.

It was reported last season the Dodgers held preliminary trade talks with Chicago Cubs prior to Samardzija being dealt to the Oakland Athletics. As they did with regularity, the Dodgers balked at including Joc Pederson or Corey Seager in the deal.

Buchholz, who is also going to be a free agent after this season, has pitched well lately after a rough start to the season. He is 6-6 with a 3.48 ERA and given up just two runs in 22 innings over his last three starts.

Given that both pitchers could very well be rentals for Los Angeles, the cost presumably would be much lower to that of acquiring Hamels. On top of needing to bolster their rotation this season, the Dodgers rotation next year could very well look different than it has in recent years should Zack Greinke opt out and sign elsewhere.

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11 Comments

  1. I wish we could work out a deal for hamels. He would be great to have for the next few years.

    If greinke does not get resigned by LA, then they’re stupid. Period.

    1. Phillies are unrealistic in their demands for Hamels there is no way they get one of the Dodgers top 2 prospects……as for Greinke, that is out of their hands…if he opts out, they can resign him…..if not..he is still a Dodger…..but they better start scoring more runs for the guy or he will leave..

      1. That will have nothing to do with it. It will be money, years and his comfort with the organization and city. I think LA has an advantage on teams in all these angles except maybe the Yankess. But, I do not see Zack wanting to pitch in NYC. If they Dodgers offer him something fair like 5 or 6 years he should take it.

      2. I’ve heard several sports broadcasters suggest that the Phillies may get more desperate to get rid of him as the trade deadline gets closer. Also, didn’t they just get a new GM or other front office guy? He may have different ideas on what they’d like to get in return for Hamels.

        If greinke keeps pitching the way he is, there’s no doubt he’ll opt out. It won’t necessarily be about wanting to leave, but he will want, and deserve, a raise and a new contract. We would be foolish to not pay him to stay. That’s the only question mark…will Friedman let him walk?? I sure hope not!

        1. Amaro is still the GM…I do not know the front office guys…..And so far Amaro is still asking for the moon…

          1. While listening to Dodgers on deck this week, I heard them mention a new front office guy that the Phillies hired and they suggested that maybe it would be easier to make a deal for Hamels now. We’ll see. They truly may get more desperate and drop their price when the deadline gets closer.

  2. not sure either one is an improvement over what they have already.I would love to see them get Cueto

  3. Not Buccholz and Samardzija. They’ve been less than steller this year. Let’s not get also rans again, especially with the expectation that Greinke is leaving and Kershaw is not right.

    1. I don’t see Greinke departing. He’ll opt out and get a raise, but he isn’t going to have this kind of success going to the AL or pitching elsewhere. LA has treated him well and will probably have won the division all 3 of his seasons here. I think that will mean something. They simply cannot allow him to leave.

      1. Hope you’re right but this management group doesn’t like giving long contracts to older vets. They’d rather put their money on the maybe recoverable disabled.

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