Are Cubs considering a reunion with Samardzija?
A Cubs reunion with free-agent pitcher Jeff Samardzija is hardly out of the question, and such a reunion might be a good thing for both sides.
Cubs team president Theo Epstein and Samardzija met Wednesday night for what is believed to be a preliminary conversation. Such meetings are routine, and clubs have them every off-season with several players.
It's no secret the Cubs are looking to add one, and possibly two, starting pitchers for the 2016 season.
Samardzija would seem to be a good fit, depending on his asking price.
The 30-year-old right-hander pitched for the White Sox in 2015, going 11-13 with a 4.96 ERA and a WHIP of 1.29.
The Cubs drafted Samardzija in 2006, and he made his major-league debut in 2008. In parts of seven seasons with the Cubs, he went 31-42 with a 3.97 ERA and a WHIP of 1.33. The Cubs traded him to Oakland in July of 2014 in a deal that netted them shortstop Addison Russell.
Previous to the trade, Samardzija turned down a long-term contract from the Cubs. But he enjoyed his time on the North Side, and he worked well with Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio.
Late-night TV:
The 2016 regular season for the Cubs will begin on April 4, a Monday night game in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels. The game will begin at 9 p.m., with ESPN2 providing national TV coverage. The local TV schedule has yet to be announced.
The Cubs play the Angels April 4 and 5. After an off-day April 6, they move to Arizona for four games against the Diamondbacks before coming back to Chicago for the Wrigley Field opener April 11 against the Reds at night.
Cubs add to roster:
The Cubs added a pair of pitchers Thursday, increasing the size of their 40-man roster to 32. They claimed left-handed pitcher Jack Leathersich off waivers from the Mets and signed right-hander Andury Acevedo to a free-agent contract.
Leathersich, 25, went 0-1 with a 2.31 ERA in 17 games with the Mets this year. He underwent Tommy John surgery at the end of July.
Acevedo, 25, has spent the last four season in the New York Yankees organization. At Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2015, he went 1-2 with a save and a 2.31 ERA.
Friday is the deadline for teams to add minor-league players to their 40-man roster or risk exposing eligible players to the December Rule 5 draft.