Levine: Jeff Samardzija Unlikely To Return To White Sox
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- If you were expecting the Chicago White Sox make a long-term offer to would-be free agent right-hander Jeff Samardzija, you may have a long wait.
Chicago general manager Rick Hahn confirmed Tuesday that the team won't be making an offer to Samardzija before the free agent period begins the first week of November. The White Sox had previously appeared open to making the Northwest Indiana native an offer to stay with the club.
Hahn put Samardzija's situation into proper perspective Tuesday.
"He is going to have to go to the market," Hahn said. "He will have to hear what is out there. He has worked too hard to get to something that is very valuable to a player. We have obviously built a very solid relationship with Jeff and his (agents). I am sure we will be in contact in the offseason as it unfolds."
Samardzija came to the White Sox in a six-player deal in December 2014. He has had a rough go of it in 2015. August was especially unkind to the him, as he went 0-6 with an 8.82 ERA. Samardzija is 9-11 with a 4.87 ERA and 1.30 WHIP for the season.
The White Sox were interested in a long-term deal after acquiring Samardzija. They were told that he was going to test free agency in the fall.
Chicago must determine whether to make a qualifying offer to him after the World Series ends. A qualifying offer means you offer your own free agent a $17.1-million one-year contract. If the player accepts, he gets a one-year contract. If he declines, the team gets a pick after the first round of the June amateur draft in June 2016.
The smart money has Samardzija getting a multi-year deal of significant money, despite having a down season. His return to the White Sox beyond 2015 seems highly unlikely.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.