Jeff Samardzija

Finally got my computer back up and running as Dell replaced all the parts but the monitor and hard drive. So here goes some catch-up.

The Cubs signed a 5 year, 10 million dollar major league deal with their 5^th round pick Jeff Samardzija on January 19, 2007. There also are club options for the years 2012 and 2013. Samardzija played in Boise and Peoria and did well at both places. He was considered a 1^st round draft pick, but teams past on him as most thought his allegiance would be to football and not be sign able. I can also understand why Samardzija took the deal instead of going the football route. His stock was declining and he might not have been a 1^st round pick in the NFL draft, and also who wants to catch passes up the middle and get drilled by big NFL players, when you can make 10 million dollars without ever worrying about that again.

Will this investment pan out?

No one can answer that, but if he is as good as advertised or at least 80% as advertised then with the price for starting pitchers these days, then yes he will be worth the investment. If he is just another over-hyped Notre Dame player from Jim Hendry then he might disappear quickly in the minors and make him think about the NFL.