Levine: Jeff Samardzija's Durability Is His Best Selling Point On Open Market
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The reality of the baseball business dictates that a quality pitcher coming off of a down year will still get paid. Such will be the case for White Sox right-hander Jeff Samardzija.
Though he's struggled mightily of late and his numbers are down, the 30-year-old Samardzija will be in demand when he becomes a free agent in November. Why? Because the market values durable starters.
Samardzija is 9-12 with a 4.89 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, but he's tossed 195 innings, which puts him on pace for about 220-plus innings. It would mark the third straight year Samardzija has tossed at least 213 innings. He also tossed just shy of 175 innings in 2012.
In a 6-4 loss to the Indians on Wednesday night, Samardzija was burned by the long ball. He went seven innings, allowing four runs on five hits, including two homers.
"This is the third time I faced these guys," Samardzija said. "I had a good plan against them. Those solo shots came back to haunt me. For sure a couple of pitches got me."
Samardzija's body of work since Aug. 1 has been nothing short of shocking. He's 1-7 with an astronomic 7.91 ERA over his last eight starts. Home cooking hasn't been the cure, as he's lost six straight in each of his last six starts at U.S.Cellular Field.
"Missing location," manager Robin Ventura said. "If you are going to miss location, it's hard to keep it in the yard. That has been tough for him in the last couple (games). He hasn't been able to keep it in the yard and limit things. We had a couple of solos that count too. If you have a lead, you can play with those. If you don't have the lead, those solos cost you."
A payday that that probably would've been in the range of five years and $110 million is looking far less likely for Samardzija, but after top hurlers David Price, Zack Greinke, Jordan Zimmermann and Johnny Cueto, Samardzija will get his contract offer. As to how much less he will get, it depends on what teams are left filling out their rotation after the top four get paid.
The White Sox will allow Samardzija to test the free-agent waters in November. The team can make a qualifying offer to him that will be close to $17 million for one year. The consensus is that Samardzija will turn down the offer, which must be made immediately after the World Series and agreed to or declined five days after that.
If the player refuses the offer, the team is entitled to a draft pick after the first round of next June's amateur draft. The wild card is whether either side really wants to continue the relationship after this disappointing season.
"There are always high expectations, especially from myself," Samardzija said. "I try to stay away from anything that comes with the media. I can only control what happens here in the clubhouse. These guys see me work and see what I do. We are in here as a team. You don't want to let your buddies down. You want to go out and perform and win a game on your own, if you have to."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.