Samardzija to Start Season in the Minors

Cubs’ Pitcher Still Has Options

VHS grad Jeff Samardzija will start next season pitching for the AAA Iowa Cubs.

The move is not so much a result of poor play on Samardzija’s part, but rather the organization’s pitching situation. The Cubs gave the final two roster spots to Angel Guzman, who has had experienced elbow and shoulder injuries in the past, and David Patton, the Cubs’ selection in the Rule 5 Draft.

"It was a long shot when [Patton] got there, and the kid deserves all the credit in the world for pitching himself into it," Cubs’ GM Jim Hendry said. "I think we owe it to ourselves to find out after all the time we've invested in Guzman -- he certainly has the stuff and ability to help us be a contending team and, hopefully, he'll live up to that potential now.

After one bullpen appearance in Iowa, the Cubs will move Samardzija to the starting rotation of the AAA club, giving him ample time to prepare for a call to the majors in case of injury or poor play from one of the major league starters.

"Jeff got a little behind early when he was trying to start," Hendry said. "I thought he pitched real well the last couple weeks out of the 'pen, and we love the future he has. I just felt like his spring wasn't so phenomenal that we didn't feel like we wanted to give Guzman and Patton a chance first."

Manager Lou Pinella also commented on Samardzija’s situation: “"Jeff got a little behind early when he was trying to start," Hendry said. "I thought he pitched real well the last couple weeks out of the 'pen, and we love the future he has. I just felt like his spring wasn't so phenomenal that we didn't feel like we wanted to give Guzman and Patton a chance first."

Quotes were obtained from MLB reporter Carrie Muskat.