Cubs Announcement: Samardzija Forgoes the NFL for the Cubs

[goonys evil twin]

Add my guess to those who think Samardzija will sign a baseball only contract with the Cubs. Shark could end up being a great steal in the 5th round last June.

 

Could is the operative word. My lack of faith in player development makes me the pessimistic cuss I am.

 

There are no guarantees in the MLB draft. If you get someone with his ability in the 5th round and get him to play baseball, that's a job well done.

 

That's a job done. It wouldn't become well done until he did something in the majors, or was deemed worthy enough to be worth something in a trade for somebody who produced in the majors.

[CP_414]

Add my guess to those who think Samardzija will sign a baseball only contract with the Cubs. Shark could end up being a great steal in the 5th round last June.

 

Could is the operative word. My lack of faith in player development makes me the pessimistic cuss I am.

 

There are no guarantees in the MLB draft. If you get someone with his ability in the 5th round and get him to play baseball, that's a job well done.

 

That's a job done. It wouldn't become well done until he did something in the majors, or was deemed worthy enough to be worth something in a trade for somebody who produced in the majors.

 

Of course the kid needs to develop, but getting him to committ to baseball full time would be a huge step towards that progress. If thats what this announcment is it would be great news for the Cubs.

[Electron Blue]

where can we see/hear this announcement, anyone know?

[davearm]

Add my guess to those who think Samardzija will sign a baseball only contract with the Cubs. Shark could end up being a great steal in the 5th round last June.

I'm not getting this line of thinking.

 

Samardzija has already signed a contract with the Cubs that will pay him something like $7.5M over the next few years if he simply shows up with his spikes and glove.

 

Why would some new contract be needed if he's formally decided on baseball?

[rocket]

Add my guess to those who think Samardzija will sign a baseball only contract with the Cubs. Shark could end up being a great steal in the 5th round last June.

I'm not getting this line of thinking.

 

Samardzija has already signed a contract with the Cubs that will pay him something like $7.5M over the next few years if he simply shows up with his spikes and glove.

 

Why would some new contract be needed if he's formally decided on baseball?

 

i don't think that's true.

[davearm]

Add my guess to those who think Samardzija will sign a baseball only contract with the Cubs. Shark could end up being a great steal in the 5th round last June.

I'm not getting this line of thinking.

 

Samardzija has already signed a contract with the Cubs that will pay him something like $7.5M over the next few years if he simply shows up with his spikes and glove.

 

Why would some new contract be needed if he's formally decided on baseball?

 

i don't think that's true.

Indeed it is http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/news/261750.html

[CP_414]

Add my guess to those who think Samardzija will sign a baseball only contract with the Cubs. Shark could end up being a great steal in the 5th round last June.

I'm not getting this line of thinking.

 

Samardzija has already signed a contract with the Cubs that will pay him something like $7.5M over the next few years if he simply shows up with his spikes and glove.

 

Why would some new contract be needed if he's formally decided on baseball?

 

i don't think that's true.

Indeed it is http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/news/261750.html

 

There have been conflicting reports about that contrace. I have seen a few reports recently that the Cubs said they are willing to give him big money, but he has to sign a baseball only contract first.

[mg420]

Add my guess to those who think Samardzija will sign a baseball only contract with the Cubs. Shark could end up being a great steal in the 5th round last June.

I'm not getting this line of thinking.

 

Samardzija has already signed a contract with the Cubs that will pay him something like $7.5M over the next few years if he simply shows up with his spikes and glove.

 

Why would some new contract be needed if he's formally decided on baseball?

 

i don't think that's true.

Indeed it is http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/news/261750.html

 

from the 5th paragraph of the article:

"Samardzija would receive $7.25 million if he makes baseball his primary sport."

 

the announcement might then be that he has indeed chosen to play only baseball.

[CuseCubFan69]

Add my guess to those who think Samardzija will sign a baseball only contract with the Cubs. Shark could end up being a great steal in the 5th round last June.

I'm not getting this line of thinking.

 

Samardzija has already signed a contract with the Cubs that will pay him something like $7.5M over the next few years if he simply shows up with his spikes and glove.

 

Why would some new contract be needed if he's formally decided on baseball?

 

i don't think that's true.

Indeed it is http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/news/261750.html

 

from the 5th paragraph of the article:

"Samardzija would receive $7.25 million if he makes baseball his primary sport."

 

the announcement might then be that he has indeed chosen to play only baseball.

 

Or football.

[davearm]

There have been conflicting reports about that contrace. I have seen a few reports recently that the Cubs said they are willing to give him big money, but he has to sign a baseball only contract first.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but IMO the Cubs have already given Samardzija big money.

 

$7.25M represents the largest signing bonus ever given to a draft pick (not counting the Matt White "loophole" situation).

 

The record for a signing bonus for a player that signed with the club that drafted him is $6.1 million, set in January by the Diamondbacks and 2005 No. 1 overall pick Justin Upton. The largest bonus ever given to a drafted player remains $10.2 million, which the Devil Rays gave to righthander Matt White after he exploited a draft loophole to become a free agent in 1996.

[CP_414]

There have been conflicting reports about that contrace. I have seen a few reports recently that the Cubs said they are willing to give him big money, but he has to sign a baseball only contract first.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but IMO the Cubs have already given Samardzija big money.

 

$7.25M represents the largest signing bonus ever given to a draft pick (not counting the Matt White "loophole" situation).

 

The record for a signing bonus for a player that signed with the club that drafted him is $6.1 million, set in January by the Diamondbacks and 2005 No. 1 overall pick Justin Upton. The largest bonus ever given to a drafted player remains $10.2 million, which the Devil Rays gave to righthander Matt White after he exploited a draft loophole to become a free agent in 1996.

 

Yeah, I guess we don't know for sure, but my understanding is he only gets that money if he picks baseball. So I hope he does.

[davearm]

from the 5th paragraph of the article:

"Samardzija would receive $7.25 million if he makes baseball his primary sport."

 

the announcement might then be that he has indeed chosen to play only baseball.

That's a possibility I guess. I don't see the need for a presser for something like that though. Especially not one involving McDonough.

 

My best guess is an extension for Zambrano.

[davearm]

Yeah, I guess we don't know for sure, but my understanding is he only gets that money if he picks baseball. So I hope he does.

I guess I'm not explaining myself well.

 

I could imagine the PC is to announce that Samardzija has chosen baseball. Seems a bit unlikely IMO, but it's definitely a possibility (and honestly it's as good a theory as any on what this whole thing's about).

 

The part I don't get is why folks think some new/different contract would come attached to such an announcement. It's already all laid out what he'll be playing for if he does indeed choose baseball.

[Butterscup1679666578]

just don't ask me to spell Coach K's name

 

Shuhshefski.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I thought Callis and BA backed off their original report of the contract? Didn't they say recently that it would've been a 7.25 million total over a series of one year contracts linked with options, but MLB wouldn't allow that type of contract to go to a draft pick? Am I taking crazy pills here?

[Bruno7481]

It's now official.

 

JS is forgoing footbal and sticking with the Cubs fulltime.

[davearm]

I thought Callis and BA backed off their original report of the contract? Didn't they say recently that it would've been a 7.25 million total over a series of one year contracts linked with options, but MLB wouldn't allow that type of contract to go to a draft pick? Am I taking crazy pills here?

That'd change things. ;)

[Laura]

Brewers fan friend emailed me about hearing that Samardzija signed a 5-year deal with the Cubs and hopes to be in the '08 rotation. He said he heard it mentioned on the Dan Patrick show.

 

I don't know how that jives with whatever contract he had signed before.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Here it is from the Samardzija thread in Minor Leagues, courtesy of Outshined.

 

Baseball America reported last June that Samardzija had agreed to a deal with the Cubs that would pay him a $7.25 million bonus if he made baseball his sole focus. Sources familiar with the agreement now say it includes a $250,000 bonus, with the guarantee of another $250,000 if he reports to spring training. He still could receive a much more lucrative deal, however.

 

...

 

Sources said the Cubs attempted to sign Samardzija to a series of one-year option contracts, which would have allowed him to make $7.25 million had the team picked up each of the options. But Major League Baseball refused to approve a minor league deal structured in that fashion, and Chicago didn't want to give him a major league contract.

[CP_414]

It's now official.

 

JS is forgoing footbal and sticking with the Cubs fulltime.

 

Excellent. Where did you see/hear that?

[Bruno7481]

It's now official.

 

JS is forgoing footbal and sticking with the Cubs fulltime.

 

Excellent. Where did you see/hear that?

 

Bruce Levine called into Dan Patrick's show to report it.

 

I believe he said Samardzija could get up to 7 million.

[CP_414]

It's now official.

 

JS is forgoing footbal and sticking with the Cubs fulltime.

 

Excellent. Where did you see/hear that?

 

Bruce Levine called into Dan Patrick's show to report it.

 

I believe he said Samardzija could get up to 7 million.

 

Good news. Now lock up Big Z for 5 more years.

[Southpaw191679666239]

I believe he said Samardzija could get up to 7 million.

 

Then they should have no problem ponying up the $15.5M Big Z wants. :P

[CuseCubFan69]

just don't ask me to spell Coach K's name

 

Shuhshefski.

 

Kruiseawooski.

[CuseCubFan69]

It's now official.

 

JS is forgoing footbal and sticking with the Cubs fulltime.

 

Excellent. Where did you see/hear that?

 

Bruce Levine called into Dan Patrick's show to report it.

 

I believe he said Samardzija could get up to 7 million.

 

Trying to steal Hendry's thunder is he? I wondered what that horrible sound was coming out of Southbend.