OAKLAND, Calif. — One of baseball’s best rotations is about to get even better.
The Oakland Athletics have an agreement in place to acquire right-handers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel from the Chicago Cubs for three top prospects in a surprising trade for the team with the best record in the majors, two people with knowledge of the deal said Friday night.
The people, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was still pending, said the A’s will send top prospect and shortstop Addison Russell, outfielder Billy McKinney and pitcher Dan Straily to the Cubs. An official announcement is expected Saturday.
The trade is a rare move under general manager Billy Beane in which Oakland — one of baseball’s most frugal franchises — is parting with talented young prospects for proven players to chase a World Series title. The A’s are a major league-best 53-33 after beating the Toronto Blue Jays 1-0 in 12 innings Friday but have come up short in the playoffs recently.
Samardzija and Hammel give the two-time defending AL West champions a powerful punch to add to a solid rotation that already includes Scott Kazmir, Sonny Gray and Tommy Milone. Jesse Chavez and Drew Pomeranz also have shined at times, too.
Oakland could use such strong arms, especially Samardzija’s, after being eliminated in a decisive fifth game at home against Detroit’s Justin Verlander in the AL divisional playoffs the past two seasons.
The hard-throwing Samardzija has just a 2-7 record on a Cubs team in last place in the NL Central. But he has a 2.83 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 108 innings, making him one of the most coveted pitchers on the trade market.
But out of contention again this summer, the Cubs wanted to get the most for Samardzija while they could. He is set to become a free agent for the first time after the 2015 season.
While he will turn 32 on Sept. 2, Hammel has been as reliable as ever for the Cubs. He is 8-5 with a 2.98 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 108 2/3 innings. He will be a free agent after the season.