Programming note: For the latest news from the MLB Winter Meetings, tune in to SportsNet Central tonight at 6 p.m., 10:30 and midnight on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area
SAN DIEGO – The A’s capped an eventful first day of the winter meetings Monday night by dealing right-hander Jeff Samardzija to the Chicago White Sox.
Neither team announced the trade, but industry sources confirmed it was a done deal. The package coming back to Oakland reportedly will include shortstop Marcus Semien and right-hander Chris Bassitt.
The A’s began the day with the morning announcement that first baseman Brandon Moss was dealt to the Cleveland Indians for minor league second baseman Joe Wendle.
[RELATED: Beane: Recent trades 'about next few years']
Samardzija’s name had swirled in trade rumors ever since the offseason began. The prevailing wisdom was that the A’s might wait until one of the high-profile free agent starters, such as Jon Lester, signed before dealing Samardzija just to get a better gauge of the market for him. But general manager Billy Beane said Monday evening that that factor wouldn’t impact the timing of a deal.
Semien, who attended St. Mary’s High-Berkeley and then played at Cal, is the key to the deal for Oakland from the standpoint that the A’s need a starting shortstop. Semien, who’s hit .240 in parts of two seasons with Chicago, has upside because of the power in his bat and he has the versatility to play second and third. But he’s not considered a marquee prospect. Neither is Bassitt, who turns 26 in February and went 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA in six appearances (five starts) last season with the Sox in his first taste of the majors.
The fact the A’s didn’t land a premium prospect for Samardzija indicates teams weren’t willing to give up too much for what may end up being one year of his service. The right-hander is a free agent after 2015 and has indicated he doesn’t plan to sign an extension until he hits the open market.
