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| Can Samardzija pitch Oakland to W.S Title? Photo credit: AP/John Bazemore |
The A’s made some fireworks of their own on July 4th as word spread quickly that they had made a blockbuster of a trade that signaled that they will not be satisfied with just getting to the playoffs this season, they want to be the last team standing in October.
By: Michael Hanley
The Athletics and Cubs completed a trade that sent Cubs starting pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to Oakland in exchange for Addison Russell, Dan Straily, Billy McKinny and a player to be named later. Its a trade on paper that certainly will help both teams as it means to filling their immediate needs.
The A’s get two frontline starters to boost their starting rotation for the rest of the regular season and come postseason. Their rotation was going great as it was constructed with one of the top ERAs in all of baseball. For as good as it was, you could see why Oakland GM BIlly Beane wanted to upgrade it with the postseason looming in the distance.
Its a rotation for as good a sit is that is young and has had some starts where they have not been able to get out of trouble against the better teams in the American League. Those types of troubles could easily come back and haunt Oakland at the most inopportune time in the middle of a tough postseason against the Tigers or whoever they wind up playing.
The A’s now can count on having a great one through four of Kazmir, Samardzija, Jason Hammel and Sonny Gray to throw at opponents for the rest of the regular season,a big challenge for all remaining opponents. Plus when they do arrive to the postseason, they will have great depth to hang their hat on and can mix and match who they exactly want to start for them in a series and who to put in the bullpen to solidify that group even more. It will be a formidable starting three pitchers for whoever ends up playing the A’s in the playoffs all with different ways of getting hitters out.
To go along with one of the most powerful and productive lineups in baseball, Oakland certainly is one of the favorites to represent the American League in the World Series.
As for the Cubs, the addition of these top prospects only enriches what is an already stacked farm system. Addison Russell is a highly regarded shortstop with unlimited potential. He was rated as a top 15 prospect by every major prospect ranking in the country. Though he has missed time due to injury he still is having a tremendous season batting .333 with one homer, eight RBIs and three steals for Double-A Midland.
Billy McKinney is a 19 year old outfield prospect who is having a solid season for High A Stockton. He is batting .241 which is average at best, but with ten home runs and 33 RBIs so far. He certainly can develop into a power bat for Chicago down the road.
Dan Straily has been pitching for the Triple A affiliate of the A’s and could develop into a future bullpen or starter for the Cubs. Straily has experience as a starting pitcher as he went 10-8 with a 3.96 ERA for Oakland last season.
This trade will be a fascinating one to see how it plays out for both teams. You cannot say the A’s have not been aggressive in their pursuit of that elusive World Series title.Cubs continue to add to what is looking like a very bright future for the franchise.
