Samardzija On Stalled Long-Term Contract Talks: 'Both Sides Are Justified'
By Bruce Levine-
(CBS) Cubs manager Rick Renteria and starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija each addressed the latter's future with the team Friday at spring training in Mesa, Ariz., stressing it's a business and will work itself on the baseball diamond. Samardzija is working on a one-year, $5.35-million contract after the sides failed to come to a long-term agreement, starting speculation that he's a prime candidate to be traded midseason.
"You address it because because it is going to be talked about," Renteria said. "What we are going to do is make him understand that the only thing significantly important to him is what happens between the lines."
Samardzija addressed the situation as well but added it will be the last time he publicly discusses it as he embarks on the 2014 campaign.
"If there wasn't a gap, we would have already signed," Samardzija said. "Both sides are justified. It is not like anyone is asking for some outlandish concept (on either side). I understand where they are coming from, and they understand where I am coming from. Sometimes it is just the product of the situation. I think that is where I am at.
"A lot of this is happening now because we have had two losing seasons. If we can change that around, then I think my situation changes."
