Samardzija isn't thinking about long-term deal

PHOENIX -- Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija will be arbitration eligible for the second time after the 2013 season. The Cubs have given long-term deals to Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo, but considering that the team is still in rebuilding mode, has Samardzija thought about a possible long-term contract?

"I haven't thought about that too much, to tell you the truth," Samardzija said Monday. "I haven't had too many talks with my agent outside of bill paying and insurance paying and taxes, which are always the most fun conversations. We'll see what happens in the offseason.

"There's still a long time to play here, and I'm not nearly as close to where I want to be," he said. "I'm going to work hard in the last 12, 13, 14 starts, and we'll cross that bridge when we get there. Right now, we need to grow as a team and gel as quickly as possible and try to win as many games as we can."

Alfonso Soriano's name also has been mentioned in trade rumors for teams looking for a right-handed bat.

"I don't want to think about it, I don't want to talk or hear my name at the Trade Deadline," Soriano said. "It's part of the game, but I'm not going to pay attention and just play my game and work hard."