However,the Giants came up with an addition to the rotation in righthander Jeff Samardzija to complement Madison Bumgarner and hopefully bulk up things around their ace.
Samardzija wasn't cheap at five years and ninety millions (18.2 million per in case your calculator isn't close) and his less than stellar season with the White Sox lasts season causes me some concern-I mean besides needing to consistently spell Samardzija on here!
Samardzija was so bad that he posted an ERA of just under five (3rd highest in the AL pitchers with enough innings to qualify),he lost 13 games for the fourth season in a row (although take that with a chili pepper flake) and his strikeouts per nine innings dipped by a full digit.
However,the White Sox were one of the worst fielding teams in the league and a smaller ballpark and sometimes,pitchers are just suited to certain leagues.
Samardzija's numbers with the Cubs were excellent and his half year in the AL with Oakland was excellent in the Oakland Coliseum.
The Oakland Coliseum with all of its foul ground is known as a pitchers park and so is AT&T Park in San Francisco with a vast outfield and deep power alleys.
Combine that with the tutelage of Dave Righetti,who has done miracles with lesser talents than Samardzija,the solid stuff of the righthander and the lack of an history with arm/shoulder issues makes me think that this is a gamble worth taking.
I'm a little leery of the length of the contract,but that's the price of playing poker in baseball today.
Other than the numbers from 2015 and the fifth year,I think this is a gamble worth taking.
Am I certain this is a good signing?
No,but I suspect it'll be an OK one....
I'll be covering any further Giants moves at the winter meetings as well as any by the Pirates and Indians.....
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