If you want a fascinating list of names, explore the history of pitchers who led the league in earned runs. There are pitchers who should never have been put in that position. There are formerly great pitchers who never turned the corner. There are pitchers who had an abnormally awful season before rebounding the next year. And there are more than a couple of Hall of Famers.

 

One of the most common reasons for a pitcher to lead his league in earned runs is that he's too good to remove from the rotation. The pitcher throws a lot of innings and is generally competent, even though he's worse than usual. The Rays let James Shields work through his problems in 2010, and they were proven right. The Phillies had no choice but to keep A.J. Burnett in the rotation in 2014, but it turns out he wasn't brokAnd occasionally, there are bad pitchers who pitched bad and should feel bad.

 

Our job today is to figure out which category Jeff Samardzija falls into. Technically, it's not our job. It's the job of GMs around baseball, one of whom will convince the owner of his team to spend millions and millions of dollars. That money will be a down payment on promise and stuff. Fingers will be crossed. It's a fine line between clever and stupid, and the Samardzija contract is walking over that line.

http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2015/11/10/970...jeff-samardzija

I feel bad for the team that signs that worthless piece of garbage.

He'll sign in San Francisco and I bet he has a really good year.

Jeff Samardzija will return to being a very good mid rotation starter, perhaps even #2 level if in the NL.

 

It just didn't work out here - time to wish him best, take the pick, and move on.

He'll sign in San Francisco and I bet he has a really good year.

 

Yep. And it'd be fitting too since it's an even number year. We all know how that works for the Giants in recent years....

Jeff Samardzija will return to being a very good mid rotation starter, perhaps even #2 level if in the NL.

 

It just didn't work out here - time to wish him best, take the pick, and move on.

 

national league team because he enjoys hitting.

 

I'll say eight miles north of where he played last season.

I feel bad for the team that signs that worthless piece of garbage.

He was bad for us, but seriously? I would be actually be surprised if he didn't end up being pretty good next season for some NL team.

Given what's gone on with the Cardinals pitching staff, that's where he needs to go.

 

The question is, would St. Louis, because of the circumstances, move away from their philosophy and aggressively go after free agent pitching.

 

Mark

If you don't like Samardzija, think of it this way...if he is awesome in 2016, not taking the QO cost him a ton of money.

Sounds like he was dealing with a mechanical flaw in the 2nd half that he finally worked out and showed some signs of being the guy we wanted for an entire season. But inconsistency seems to be his trademark, so anyone who signs him will be looking at flashes of brilliance and moments utter ineptitude.

Given what's gone on with the Cardinals pitching staff, that's where he needs to go.

 

The question is, would St. Louis, because of the circumstances, move away from their philosophy and aggressively go after free agent pitching.

 

Mark

 

I don;t think they have much choice. their starting rotation really took a hit. Lynn down for 2016, will Martinez be healthy? Is Wacha still the same pitcher? Top pitching prospect Alex Reyes out for suspension. Plus earlier this year, they signed a 15-year television rights extension with FOX Sports Midwest worth more than $1 billion. Given that Cubs and Pitts and a real threat and Cards are known for great pitching, I expect them to be aggressive for FA pitching this year. As far as moving away from their philosophy , they have in the past when needed. Here are a few examples. Granted these numbers are not big, but they were significant at the years they were spent.

Jason Isringhausen — $27 million, 4 years (Dec. ’01)

Jake Westbrook — $16.5 million, 2 years (Nov. ’10)

Andy Benes — $16 million, 3 years (Jan. ’00)

Woody Williams — $14.9 million, 2 years (Nov. ’02)

Braden Looper — $13.5 million, 3 years (Dec. ’05)

Mark Mulder — $11.5 million, 2 years (Nov. ’07)

Would LOVE to see Greinke with the cards, but doubt they will go that nuts. But with the TV contract...and given Cubs have deep pockets and are a real threat......you never know.

He was bad for us, but seriously? I would be actually be surprised if he didn't end up being pretty good next season for some NL team.

He was terrible for the Chicago White Sox in 2015. I don't care what he does next season or the season after that with another team.

 

He was awful on the Sox and that's all I care about.

My guess is Samardzija ends up signing with Toronto.

He was terrible for the Chicago White Sox in 2015. I don't care what he does next season or the season after that with another team.

 

He was awful on the Sox and that's all I care about.

 

 

Actually we might if he ends up in AL central division or Wrigley

a overview of Samardjiza's 15 season.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/whats-up-wi...eff-samardzija/

I bet Jeff turns into one of the better FA signings in all of baseball this year. In fact, I still say, I'd be thrilled if he somehow decided to take his qualifying offer with us and we can spin him at the deadline.

I think that he ends up with the Cardinals. They are thin with all of the injuries to their SP's and he would likely be in the range that they would be willing to pay.

OK, Rasmus just accepted the QO and is the first to ever do so.... I'm panicking at the thought that Samardjiza is going to accept it too!! What time today does he have until to accept it?...

OK, Rasmus just accepted the QO and is the first to ever do so.... I'm panicking at the thought that Samardjiza is going to accept it too!! What time today does he have until to accept it?...

 

5pm eastern time

5pm eastern time

 

Thanks. 38 minutes until the end of this guy....

Edited November 13, 201510 yr by Scubadentist

Wonder why this is going down to the final 30 minutes. Seems like an easy decision for Samardzija to try to cash in on an NL team taking his innings.

Going down to the wire like this combined with Levine saying Samardzija will reject the QO is really making me wonder...

He will get some longer term offers, but I could easily see where he makes the decision to bet on himself and be able to make a lot more money. Then again, you put a 2nd poor year in and that longer term deal is gone. The sad thing is, it seems that a major driver for him not taking the offer is he had a lot of issues with the White Sox. All players are different, but given he didn't have a history of issues with two different organizations, it makes you wonder about the health of the Sox culture.

15 mins... I'm getting worried