NEW YORK — The trade that put Jeff Samardzija on a postseason contender cost him a chance to pitch in his first All-Star game.
A day after Samardzija was dealt from the Chicago Cubs to the Oakland Athletics, a big league-high six A’s were picked Sunday for the game at Target Field in Minnesota on July 15.
That doesn’t include Samardzija, who was selected as a National League All-Star. Major League Baseball said he is ineligible to play because of the league switch.
The 29-year-old right-hander, who was 2-7 with a 2.83 ERA and 103 strikeouts for the Cubs, won his American League debut Sunday when he allowed one run in seven innings for a 4-2 victory over Toronto. He will be introduced with the NL players before the All-Star game. It is still to be decided is whether he wears a Cubs or A’s uniform — or a generic NL jersey.
“I won’t get to pitch, which is a bummer, but that’s all right,” Samardzija said. “I’ll just go through whatever ceremonies they have and just jump over to the AL dugout with an NL jersey on and have some fun with the six other dudes we have over there, which is exciting.”
Oakland, with the best record in the majors, has its most All-Stars since 1975: left-handers Sean Doolittle and Scott Kazmir, catcher Derek Norris, first baseman Brandon Moss, third baseman Josh Donaldson and outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.
Photo via USA Today Sports Images
