Inconsistency has been the name of the game for Chicago Cubs’ starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija. Although the 28 year-old right hander has shown strokes of brilliance during his time in the majors, the fact remains that he is a mediocre third starter at best. The Cubs paid him $2.64 million in 2013 and didn’t get much in return. The former University of Notre Dame All-American wide receiver went 8-13 with a 4.34 earned run average last season. However, the silver lining in Samardzija’s game is his ability to strike batters out. His 214 strikeouts in 213.2 innings last year put him in the category of power right-handed pitchers, who are becoming a dime a dozen lately.
So, what fate awaits a pitcher whose efforts can be replicated by many others around the league? He’s got a couple of things going for him, one of which is his age. There are some clubs around the league that are looking for a young, but experienced starter to anchor their staff around. Personally, I wouldn’t want to build my rotation around a number three starter, but it seems as if there is some solid interest among major league teams. The second thing he’s got going for him is that he has good hair. If Tom Brady and Tim Lincecum haven’t proved that long, flowing locks bring good statistics, I don’t know who has.
All kidding aside, there are two possible scenarios in 2014 for the young flamethrower. First, Samardzija could reach an agreement with the Chicago Cubs through arbitration that would keep him in the windy city. Although he had a sub-par season last year and made only $2.64 million, league standards would dictate that he receive a raise of at least 100% to remain with the team. If the two parties reach an agreement, it would likely be a deal to keep Samardzija in Chicago until at least after the 2015 season when he is eligible for free-agency. Locking him into a long-term deal remains the Cubs’ number one preference.
On the other side of the spectrum, there are those in the baseball world that see no other option than trading him this offseason. Comcast SportsNet Chicago’s David Kaplan reports that there is a 99% chance that Samardzija will be traded before the start of the 2014 season. There are several reasons why at least eight major league teams have shown significant interest in him. First, due to his football background, there is not as much wear and tear on his arm as is normally the case for a pitcher his age. Also, whoever he is traded to will have him under contract for at least two years and they get the bonus of Samardzija being a natural leader and a good clubhouse presence.
The three main teams interested in acquiring the righty are the Baltimore Orioles, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Toronto Blue Jays. It may take several months for the Samardzija saga to play out, but I’d have to agree with Kaplan and expect to see the power righty in a different uniform come next season.