Levine: Jeff Samardzija-White Sox Relationship Nearing End
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The pitching line for White Sox right-hander Jeff Samardzija on Tuesday at U.S. Cellular Field was one for the dark ages: three innings, 11 hits and 10 earned runs. It's clear that a disconnect is taking place for Samardzija, and the relationship with the team appears to be over after one season.
Samardzija's disappointing campaign -- 9-13 with a 5.27 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 30 starts -- includes him going 1-8 with a 9.24 ERA since Aug. 1. That ineptness would suggest a one-and-done year with the team will be the case for Samardzija.
The politics of this particular case are a bit complicated. Samardzija is six weeks away from declaring free-agent status. Baseball rules dictate that if you want draft compensation for a free agent leaving, the team must extend a qualifying offer to the would-be free agent. This must take place five days after the World Series ends in early November.
The qualifying offer is a different figure each season, based on contract averages for the 125 top-salaried players of that season. The guess is this year's price for the one-year guarantee will be $16 million. In the case of Samardzija or any free agent, they must respond with a yes or no within a week of the offer being made.
If Samardzija accepted the offer, he'd be under contract control for next season. If he rejected the offer -- and he almost certainly will if it's offered -- he instantly becomes a free agent. In that case, the White Sox would receive a compensatory pick in next June's amateur draft, after the first round is completed.
The cat-and-mouse part of the equation is whether the White Sox want to gamble on Samardzija declaring free agent status or accepting the high-priced one-year deal. Assuming they don't want Samardzija to return, him surprising them by accepting the qualifying offer would create a financial and logistical problem for the payroll and roster.
Still, the White Sox have little reason to worry about Samardzija accepting a qualifying offer, according to industry sources.
Those close to the pitcher insist that despite the down season, Samardzija will declare for free agency and will be an attractive option on the open market. The consensus before the season was he would get at least a five-year, $100-million contract with any 2015 output close to his three previous seasons (when he was durable and had compiled ERAs of 3.81, 4.34 and 2.99).
The White Sox share their disappointment equally with the 30-year-old Samardzija in evaluating this lost season. On Tuesday, 12 scouts from different organizations were in attendance for Samardzija's atrocious outing in a 17-6 loss to Oakland.
"We see correctable flaws in his delivery," a National League top talent evaluation expert said. "He needs to rework his wind-up. He is spinning out and leaving his arm slot on the side. This pitcher is a great competitor, and his stuff is good. He is lost mentally right now, but our club and a lot of others will be in the mix."
Samardzija' base salary was $9.75 million in 2015.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
