Free-agent pitcher Jeff Samardzija agreed to a deal with the San Francisco Giants on Saturday.
According to the Associated Press, the deal is for five years and $90 million. The deal is pending a physical. The Giants will give up their first-round draft pick with the signing because Samardzija declined the qualifying off from the Chicago White Sox, MLB.com notes. It’s the third large contract for a pitcher this week, after David Price signed with the Boston Red Sox and Zack Greinke signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Samardzija was acquired by the White Sox in a trade at the winter meetings in 2014. This year was his first full season in the American League. He was 11-13 with a 4.96 ERA, which was the third-highest among all qualified AL pitchers, according to ESPN. Samardzija is 47-61 with a 4.09 ERA in his eight-year career with the White Sox, Chicago Cubs, and Oakland Athletics. Samardzija joins a Giants rotation that includes Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, Mike Leake, and Ryan Vogelsong. Leake and Vogelsong are free agents, though the Giants are interested in bringing Leake back.
The Giants, who won the World Series in 2010, 2012, and 2014, failed to make the playoffs this year.