Showalter downplays Samardzija rumors

MILWAUKEE -- Despite the rumor mill kicking into high gear on Tuesday night, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Wednesday that he has yet to hear Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija's name come up in discussions with executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette.

CBS Chicago reported that the Orioles are an early favorite for Samardzija's services, with the Trade Deadline more than two months away. The fit obviously makes sense, given the O's pitching woes. The Cubs are said to be scouting Baltimore's impressive group of young arms that includes Dylan Bundy, Eduardo Rodriguez and last year's top Draft pick, Hunter Harvey.

"Dan's MO is he does all the work and everything," Showalter said, "And when it comes down to something that could be a possibility, we sit down, the coaching staff and everything, and we talk about it."

The 29-year-old Samardzija is under team control through the 2015 season and he entered Wednesday with the second-lowest ERA in baseball at 1.68.