In Cubs news tonight, USA TODAY Sports writer Bob Nightengale believes that "the time is now" for the Chicago Cubs to trade ace pitcher Jeff Samardzija.
"Chicago Cubs ace Jeff Samardzija must go," Nightengale writes in an article posted on Saturday. "It makes absolutely no sense for the Cubs to keep him any longer. They either have to sign him or trade him, and since there are no contract talks, and his value continues to soar, now is the time to move him."
Nightengale says that it doesn't make any sense for the team to wait until late-July. With Samardzija's value skyrocketing despite his poor luck when it comes to victories, the Cubs may be able to extract maximum value from Samardzija right away - something Nightengale sees as an essential move for the Cubs.
While he is unquestionably the team's ace, Nightengale asserts that "you need a whole lot more than an ace pitcher to be a contender," imploring the Cubs to not take the same route of a team such as the Seattle Mariners.
The Mariners have hung on to their ace, Felix Hernandez, despite numerous trade offers - and the team has been mired in mediocrity ever since.
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