July 28--BOSTON -- White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Jeff Samardzija is still scheduled to pitch Tuesday against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, even as the team considers whether to deal the right-hander before Friday's non-waiver trade deadline.
Ventura said general manager Rick Hahn told him that as of Monday afternoon Samardzija was going to pitch in the second game of a four-game series, which would be his final start before the deadline.
"I have him penciled in tomorrow," Ventura said. "I don't assume to make an adjustment. I would like him to pitch for me."
Samardzija, who has been traded twice in a little over a year, said he is preparing as usual for what will be his first start at Fenway Park, though he has pitched out of the bullpen at the park before. He said he lets Hahn and his agent deal with any potential moves and believes they will give him updates when necessary.
"I'm just trying to stay in my lane and just do what I do with pitching and let everyone else handle that," Samardzija said. "Rick's a professional. Rick's one of the best I've worked with, and I have full confidence in him respectfully keeping me informed or not informed, depending on what he knows and doesn't know."
The Sox are in an interesting position as the front office decides if and whom to trade. They have won four straight games, have climbed to 46-50 and sit five games out of the second American League wild-card spot.
"We love how we've been playing," Samardzija said. "Our little road trip here against an Indians team that was down a little bit on offense with some injuries and obviously everyone knows the status of this (44-55) Boston team, so we need to come in and handle our business. And when the deadline comes down the road, you see where you're at."
With free-agent status looming for Samardzija before the 2016 season, he said he has thought about which teams he might like to pitch for in the future, whether that's in a few days or further down the line. He said as a fan of the game he watches how other teams play on the field and handle their operations off it, including drafting and developing players.
"In my situation, you're always paying attention," Samardzija said. "You're always watching the teams you're playing against. You're always watching how they go about their business, and you just start to take mental notes of different things."
