Athletics trade Samardzija to White Sox in 6-player deal

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It's official: Jeff Samardzija is returning to the Windy City.

The Chicago White Sox confirmed Tuesday that they acquired Samardzija and minor-league pitcher Michael Ynoa from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for four players.

It was previously reported to be a four-player deal, but the White Sox announced they're also receiving Ynoa, an intriguing Dominican prospect who signed with the Athletics as a highly-rated teenager. 

The  6-foot-7 right-hander missed significant time in recent years due to injury, and most recently appeared in 31 games at Class-A last season where he struggled to a 5.52 ERA across 45 2/3 innings.

Samardzija, who turns 30 before next season, is a free agent next winter, but in the interim provides the White Sox a dominating top-heavy rotation that also features left-handers Chris Sale and Jose Quintana.

(Courtesy: FanGraphs.com)

The blockbuster trade is an aggressive move for a club that also reportedly signed reliever David Robertson to a lucrative four-year, $46-million contract this week.

"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," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said in a statement. "His competitiveness fits well in our clubhouse, on the mound and in our city."

The presence of Samardzija, who's coming off back-to-back 200-inning campaigns, promises to restore confidence in a franchise that's missed out on the playoffs in six straight seasons. Even if he's only a one-year rental.

"It’s not ideal," Hahn said. "It’s not the No. 1 target or plan as you enter the offseason, but as opportunities arise that you know are certainly going to improve you in the short term and potentially allow you the opportunity to still contend in the long term, you still have to look at it."

The White Sox, however, like their chances of keeping Samardzija in Chicago much longer.

Hahn said Samardzija told him after the trade that it was a dream come true returning to his hometown of Chicago, where he also spent the first six years of his career as a member of the Cubs. The White Sox GM confirmed Tuesday the club will try and sign Samardzija to a long-term extension.

Going the other way are infielders Marcus Semien and Rangel Ravelo, right-hander Chris Bassitt and catcher Josh Phegley. Ravelo and Phegley were not included in the original deal reported late Monday night.

Phegley, 24, spent most of the 2014 season at Triple-A Charlotte, ranking third in the International League with 23 homers and a .530 slugging percentage in 107 games. Ravelo, meanwhile, is a 22-year-old first baseman who ranked as the No. 10 prospect in the White Sox organization by Baseball America. He hit .309 with 37 doubles and 11 homers in 133 games at Double-A last year.

For more on Semien and Bassitt, check out the post below.