Yankees showing interest in trading for Cubs' ace Jeff Samardzija

We've been talking about it a lot now, and the rumors are starting to ramp. The possibility of the Yankees trading outfielder Brett Gardner is becoming more and more likely now that the Yankees have six outfielders after signing Carlos Beltran and Jacoby Ellsbury.

The signing of those two still leaves a couple holes in the starting rotation, which the Yankees believe they could patch up by dealing Gardner for a starting pitcher or bullpen arm.

A source told Robert Murray of SportsInjuryAlert.com that the Yankees are interested in trading for Chicago Cubs right-hander Jeff Samardzija. Tom Loxas of Chicago Now has confirmed the report, and also notes that the Yankees would likely have to get a third team involved to get a deal done.

Obviously Gardner would be one of the main pieces the Yankees include. Behind him, it's hard t figure out where the actual value is. You would have to think Ivan Nova has some value, but I wouldn't see the Yanks wanting to move him. Possibly Jose Campos, J.R. Murphy and Gary Sanchez would be a couple other top pieces.

Samardzija would not be anything more than a No. 4 starter for the Yankees, with CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda and Ivan Nova ahead of him, as he went 8-13 with a 4.34 ERA for the Cubs last season. But his 214/78 strikeout-to-walk ratio certainly does add some interest as a pitcher that could be a decent backend of the rotation starter.

By the way things have been going this winter, it's been sounding like the Cubs will almost certainly move Samardzija at some point this offseason, but at the same time, Chicago has been discussing a possible extension with the 28-year-old.

Earlier in the day, the idea was also brought up that the Yankees could get talking with the Cincinnati Reds about a deal that would bring promising right-hander Homer Bailey to the Bronx.

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