Jeff Samardzija Has A $90M Offer On The Table
(CBS) Free-agent right-hander Jeff Samardzija has a $90-million offer on the table from an unidentified team, a source confirmed to 670 The Score's Bruce Levine.
The average annual value that Samardzija is looking for is around $18 million, according to industry sources, which would put the unidentified team's offer at five years in length. Many believe a three- or four-year deal is the offer length Samardzija will draw from most teams.
The Cubs are one of Samardzija's suitors. He had a meeting with president of baseball operations Theo Epstein several weeks ago in Chicago. The Giants have also been reported to have interest in Samardzija, though their primary focus is on a pursuit of right-hander Zack Greinke.
The 30-year-old Samardzija had a disappointing 2015 season with the White Sox, going 11-13 with a 4.96 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. Still, his durability and the fact he has fewer innings on his arm than most pitchers his age are helping him garner significant interest on the free-agent market.
Samardzija spent his first six-and-a-half MLB seasons with the Cubs, who took him in the fifth round of the 2006 draft. Samardzija's best season as a professional was his last with the Cubs, as he compiled a 2.83 ERA in 17 starts for them in 2014 before being traded to the Athletics in a deal that sent shortstop Addison Russell to Chicago. Samardzija has a close relationship with Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio.