Earlier in the offseason, Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said he would like to keep starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija beyond the 2015 season. It looks like his wish has a chance of coming true.
According to Adam Berry of MLB.com, Samardzija and his agent, Mark Rodgers, are "at least willing to listen to any offers from the White Sox about a long-term contract extension." Rodgers appeared on MLB Network Radio's "The Front Office" on Sunday and spoke with hosts Jim Bowden and Jim Duquette about the right-hander's current situation in Chicago.
"Obviously they really put in a lot of effort this offseason to make that club better," Rodgers said. "And so out of due respect to [White Sox chairman] Mr. [Jerry] Reinsdorf and to [general manager] Rick Hahn, who's done a heck of a job, and [executive vice president] Kenny Williams, I told those guys, 'Any time you want to talk, I'll listen. Jeff and I will certainly talk.'"
Samardzija was acquired from the Oakland Athletics during the MLB Winter Meetings back in December. The White Sox also received pitcher Michael Ynoa in the deal and sent pitcher Chris Bassitt, infielder Marcus Semien, infielder Rangel Ravelo and catcher Josh Phegley to Oakland. Shortly after the trade, Hahn expressed interest in keeping Samardzija for the long haul.
"We're going to make every effort in the coming weeks and months to try to make this a long-term relationship," Hahn told reporters during the Winter Meetings, via Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.
However, the contract starting pitcher Max Scherzer received from the Washington Nationals really changed the entire landscape of free agency for starting pitchers heading into next offseason. Unless the White Sox were to blow Samardzija away with an offer that he would be willing to accept at this very moment, it's fairly likely the right-hander plays out the 2015 season under his $9.8 million salary and explores the market once the year ends.
"If Jeff continues to get exponentially better, I don't know where the market for that goes. He's got No. 1-type stuff," his agent added. "He's got Cy Young-type stuff to win 20 games, strike out 230-240 guys in 220 innings and just have a monster year. So to talk about what his value is in free agency a year early would really do him injustice because I think there's more to come, better to come for Jeff."
The 30-year-old has only spent three full seasons as a starter and has a lot of mileage left on his odometer. In 99 total starts with the Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics, Samardzija owns a weak 26-42 record, but has maintained a 3.86 ERA and 1.23 WHIP while striking out 610 batters in 632 1/3 innings. His best campaign came in 2014, when he finished 7-13 with a 2.99 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 202 strikeouts in 33 starts (219 2/3 innings).
We'll keep an update if these contract talks happen to take place in the next few weeks before spring training begins.
