White Sox Add A Pair of Arms Samardzija & Robertson

12/9/2014

The Chicago White Sox have acquired right-handed pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Michael Ynoa (pronounced "IN-no-uh") from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for right-handed pitcher Chris Bassitt, catcher Josh Phegley, first baseman Rangel Ravelo and infielder Marcus Semien.

Samardzija, 29, was 7-13 with a 2.99 ERA (73 ER/219.2 IP), two complete games, 202 strikeouts and a .234 opponents average (191-815) over 33 starts between the Chicago Cubs and Oakland last season. He was traded from the Cubs to the Athletics on July 5. Samardzija made 23 quality starts, worked at least 7.0 IP 21 times, allowed two earned runs or less in 21 outings and one earned run or less 14 times.

"Jeff is one of the elite right-handed starting pitchers in baseball, and we believe his addition to our roster gives us the potential for a formidable starting rotation," said Rick Hahn, White Sox senior vice president/general manager. "His competitiveness fits well in our clubhouse, on the mound and in our city."

A 2014 All-Star, Samardzija established career bests in IP, strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.70), opponents on-base percentage (.279) and walks per 9.0 IP (1.76). He was 5-6 with a 3.14 ERA (39 ER/111.2 IP) over 16 starts with the Athletics following the trade, including a career-best 16.0 scoreless IP streak from September 5-14. Samardzija recorded five scoreless outings last season, all no decisions. He owns an 8.82 strikeout per 9.0 IP mark since becoming a starting pitcher in 2012.

Samardzija is one of just five pitchers to record 200 or more strikeouts in each of the last two seasons. The list includes the White Sox Chris Sale, Seattle's Felix Hernandez, the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw and Detroit's Max Scherzer. He is 36-48 with a 3.85 ERA (333 ER/777.2 IP), five complete games, one shutout and 738 strikeouts in 222 career games (99 starts) in seven seasons with the Cubs (2008-14) and Athletics (2014). Samardzija has allowed just 81 homers and 277 walks lifetime.

White Sox Sign Pitcher Dave Robertson

USA Today and FoxSports.com report the agreement to be for four years and at least $42 million.

Robertson, 29, moved from the setup role to Mariano Rivera's replacement with the Yankees last season and acquitted himself nicely. The right-hander saved 39 games over 63 appearances, striking out 96 and allowing 45 hits over 64 1/3 innings.

source mlb.com

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           The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Samardzija is a native of Merrillville, Ind. and was an All-Big East pitcher and All-American wide receiver at Notre Dame (2003-06). Samardzija originally was drafted by the Cubs in the fifth round of the 2006 draft.

            Ynoa, 23, spent the entire 2014 season with Class A Stockton, going 4-2 with a 5.52 ERA (28 ER/45.2 IP) and 64 strikeouts over 31 relief appearances. He limited left-handers to a .191 average (13-68) with 36 strikeouts and posted a 12.61 strikeout per 9.0 IP mark overall. He entered 2014 ranked by Baseball America as the No. 4 Prospect in the Oakland system.

            Ynoa, 6-foot-7 and 210-pounds, is a native of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. He has gone 8-10 with a 4.81 ERA (86 ER/161.0 IP), one save and 168 strikeouts in 70 appearances (36 starts) over four seasons (2010, 2012-14) in the Athletics system. He was selected to the 2013 World Team roster for the All-Star Futures Game at Citi Field in New York. Ynoa originally signed with the Athletics on July 2, 2008.

            "Michael is a highly touted prospect who signed at age 16 and then missed an entire season in 2011 with an arm injury," Hahn said. "Our scouts believe his arm strength has returned, and our reports on him pitching out of the bullpen with Stockton were impressive as he is still only 23 years old."

Bassitt, 26, made his major-league debut with the White Sox last season, going 1-1 with a 3.94 (13 ER/29.2 IP) and 21 strikeouts over six games (five starts) after having his contract purchased on August 30. He also made nine appearances (eight starts) between the Arizona League White Sox and Class AA Birmingham. Bassitt was selected in the 16th round of the 2011 draft.

Phegley, 27, spent most of the 2014 season with Class AAA Charlotte, hitting .274 (115-419) with 30 doubles, 23 home runs and 75 RBI over 107 games. He also appeared in 11 games with Chicago in September, going 8-37 (.216) with three homers and seven RBI. Phegley was selected with a sandwich pick (between first and second round) in the 2009 draft.

Ravelo, 22, hit .309 (147-476) with 37 doubles, 11 home runs, 66 RBI and 72 runs scored in 133 games with Birmingham last season. He was originally selected by Chicago in the sixth round of the 2010 draft.

Semien, 24, appeared in 64 games over two stints with the White Sox last season, hitting .234 (54-231) with 10 doubles, six home runs, 28 RBI and 30 runs scored. He also batted .267 (81-303) with 20 doubles, 15 homers and 52 RBI in 83 games with Charlotte. Semien, who made his major-league debut with the club in 2013, was originally selected by Chicago in the sixth round of the 2011 draft.

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