Jeff Samardzija and the Chicago White Sox have come to an agreement on a one-year, $9.8 million deal to avoid a salary arbitration hearing, the team announced on Friday.
Jeff Samardzija avoids arbitration with White Sox
The newly acquired starter reached an agreement with the White Sox, avoiding arbitration in the process.
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"Shark" was 7-13 with a 2.99 ERA in 33 starts in 2014, with 202 strikeouts and 43 walks in a career-high 219⅔ innings. The White Sox acquired Samardzija on Dec. 9 along with Michael Ynoa from Oakland in exchange for Marcus Semien, Josh Phegley, Chris Bassitt and Rangel Ravelo.
Posting a sub-3.00 ERA for the second time in his career and first as a starter, Samardzija eclipsed the 50 percent mark in his ground ball rate and struck out nearly five batters for every walk. For all of this, he finds himself on his third team in the span of a year, presumably because PR people get tired of trying to spell his name.
Samardzija is expected to play second fiddle to Chris Sale on a White Sox team that anticipates contending following the additions of Adam LaRoche, Melky Cabrera and David Robertson this offseason.
Chicago also avoided arbitration with Tyler Flowers, signing the catcher for $2.675 million for 2015.
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