Samardzija had 202 strikeouts in 219 2/3 innings with a 2.99 ERA with the Cubs and Athletics last season. Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn was focused on pitching, and landed two of the top arms on the market late Monday night, acquiring right-hander Jeff Samardzija from the Oakland Athletics and signing Yankees free agent closer David Robertson.
Robertson was the top closer on the market and will reportedly received $46 million over four years from the White Sox, who had a history of developing their own ninth-inning arms rather than shopping the free agent market.
Samardzija, who was drafted by the Chicago Cubs and is from Northwest Indiana, a region dominated by White Sox fans, was dealt from the Cubs to the Athletics before the 2014 trade deadline.
He is entering the final year of his contract and at 29, has said he wants to test the open market after the 2015 season. He had 202 strikeouts in 219 2/3 innings with a 2.99 ERA with the Cubs and Athletics last season.
Robertson will cost the White Sox draft-pick compensation — a second-round pick. The Yankees offered him a $15.3 million qualifying offer, but Robertson rejected the deal. He was 4-5 with 39 saves despite a stint on the disabled list last season in his first season as Mariano Rivera’s replacement.
The White Sox had a 4.29 ERA as a team in 2014. Six different players recorded a save, and the closer’s role was in flux most of the season, starting with the first game of the season when manager Robin Ventura announced hard-throwing right-hander Nate Jones would miss significant time. Veteran Matt Lindstrom took over but recorded only six saves before an ankle injury derailed his season.
Oakland will reportedly receive infielder Marcus Semien and right-handed pitcher Chris Bassitt, who made five starts for the White Sox last season. Semien can play second base or third base. He played in 64 games with a .234 batting average, six home runs and 28 RBIs in 2014.
