The Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago Cubs reportedly both are interested in completing a trade involving Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija. Chicago is interested in Baltimore's young pitchers, such as Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman, according to CBS Chicago's Bruce Levine.
Samardzija (1-4, 1.68 ERA) appears unlikely to re-sign with Chicago after his contract expires, largely due to the lack of run support that has limited him to just one win this season despite having the second lowest ERA for a starting pitcher in the league.
Chicago, seemingly aware Samardzija will likely be in another jersey in November 2015, reportedly is interested in trading the pitcher to Baltimore in exchange for some of the Orioles' young pitching prospects.
"The Baltimore Orioles appear to be the leading team of interest in the sweepstakes for Cubs right-hander Jeff Samardzija, as sources confirmed the two teams are mutually interested," Levine wrote on Tuesday. "With the American League East up for grabs, the Orioles could separate themselves from the pack with the pre-emptive move before the trading deadline on July 31.
"The Orioles have premium young pitching that the Cubs will insist on if they are going to move their ace. Right-handed pitchers Dylan Bundy, Kevin Gausman, Hunter Harver and left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez top the list of young arms the Cubs are scouting."
Levine called Bundy the most "interesting" of Baltimore's group of young pitchers. Bundy, the fourth overall pick of the 2011 draft and who was rated with a 70 fastball, is almost a year removed from Tommy John Surgery.
Harvey has a mid-90s fastball and Rodriguez has a fastball in the 92-94 mph range.
