Levine: Samardzija Control Could Lead To Bidding War
By Bruce Levine-
(CBS) The White Sox continue to build a championship-caliber team for 2015, as new components have been added, with astute manipulations being made seemingly every other day by general manager Rick Hahn. Contract control for at least two years -- and in some cases three and four years -- are key elements in having added impact players to the team.
That is with everyone except recently acquired right-hander Jeff Samardzija, a former Cubs pitcher who cost the White Sox four solid-if-not-spectacular young players in a deal with the Athletics at the winter meetings. Samardzija can declare for free-agent status in November of 2015. That in itself tempers the long-range view of adding the 29-year-old Samardzija, who will be introduced Tuesday afternoon on the South Side.
A northwest Indiana football legend, Samardzija has now established himself as a viable top-of-the-line starter in the major leagues. Staying close to his Midwestern roots and family will be a major factor in determining which club he chooses to pitch for after 2015.
The White Sox may be the favorite to retain the pitcher after the season. A contract that will be worth $120 million-plus can be expected as the going rate for Samardzija if he continues to dominate and improve next summer. (He's averaged nearly 199 strikeouts and nearly 203 innings pitched over the last three seasons.)
Knowing Samardzija like I do, the White Sox shouldn't expect a hometown discount on any long-term deal. Samardzija could just as easily go back to the Cubs if they show him the love that was missing from the previous offers they extended before he was traded last July to the Athletics.
Samardzija will have played for three teams in two seasons after he begins his White Sox career next spring. He's a young man who knows what he wants and works hard to attain his goals. The next goal he goes after may create a bidding war between the Chicago teams for his services beyond 2015.
The White Sox will do everything they can to sign Samardzija to a long-term deal while he is under contract control. Although Samardzija is thrilled to be a White Sox player, don 't bet against a battle royal between the Cubs and White Sox for long-term control and bragging rights of Samardzija.
The Cubs offered Samardzija an $85 million deal last June before they traded him. The price of poker has since gone through the roof now that Jon Lester's nearly $26-million-per-season is the going rate for any ace not named Clayton Kershaw, whose contract averages more than $30 million annually.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
