The Giants have placed right-handed pitcher Jeff Samardzija on the 10-day injured list due to a shoulder impingement, according to Kerry Crowley of the Mercury News. He’s set to undergo an MRI today. Meanwhile, left-hander Andrew Suarez has been recalled to replace Samardzija on the active roster.
A blister on his right hand has prevented Samardzija from utilizing his splitter, which is crucial to Samardzija’s repertoire as his go-to two-strike pitch. That has contributed to the 35-year-old’s unsightly 9.88 ERA through three starts. He’s struck out just 5 batters in 13 2/3 innings, and no National League pitcher has allowed more earned runs or hits. Suffice it to say, it’s been a frustrating start to the final year of the five-year, $90MM contract Samardzija earned prior to the 2016 season.
Indeed, if the results of his MRI are damning, Samardzija may see his Giants tenure come to a premature end, though hopefully that’s a fate that can be avoided yet. At the earliest, he’ll be eligible to return August 18, and the results of the MRI should bring clarity to the veteran’s timetable for a return.
The news is that much more concerning given Samardzija’s previous shoulder problems: he missed a considerable portion of the 2018 season with tightness and inflammation in his right shoulder, limiting him to just 10 starts that year. While the injury never required surgery, it hampered him throughout the year and he struggled to recover. Nearly two years removed from those injuries, it’s hard to conclude that his current issues are related to those he suffered in 2018, but one can’t help but draw a connection.
With Samardzija out of the picture for the foreseeable future and Drew Smyly also on the IL, the Giants are faced with a rotation conundrum. Beyond Johnny Cueto, Kevin Gausman, Logan Webb, and Tyler Anderson, they’ll need to cobble together a plan in the meantime. While Suarez, taking Shark’s spot on the roster, has started for the Giants in the past, Gabe Kapler might look to deploy him in relief in the immediate future. Elsewhere on the 60-man player pool, Trevor Cahill and Dereck Rodriguez are leading depth options. They figure to be the primary candidates to replace Samardzija in the rotation.
Not that he had much trade value but this doesn’t help.
I hear ya, but it’s better than him continuing to get blasted every outing
at this point, he’s just flipping up bp…
Good. He’s terrible, I’d rather see Suarez or D-Rod, heck maybe even make Shaun Anderson a starter again.
You’d rather see them than have him healthy? Last year he was good.
I would have taken him as depth for the Braves if they could work out the financials
The Shark was on the final year of his pro rated contract. I am sure teams like the Braves or Mets could have used him.
agreed. especially if he was playing like he was last year
Used a 10.00 era? In what way?
Wait… Jeff Samardzija is still a thing?
Jeff Samardzija is a older version of Noah Syndergaard. Look’s perfect for the Mets since they love that long past the shoulder hair.
He was never anything special anyway. Other than a 2 sport athlete. Jim Hendry gave him upwards of 5mill which was a contract exclusively for baseball. He chose the wrong sport. He might have been a really good tight end. The giants overpaid him by 60mil at the least. N
He’s made about 122 million and is still playing, you think he would’ve made that in the NFL as a WR or TE? I don’t think he has any qualms about picking baseball.
Thats about 100 mil more than he’s worth. He was a good TE at Notre Dame. We dont know if he would’ve made that. I think he’d be plenty happy if he made 2/3 of that playing football. For one he would likely be relaxing and enjoying retirement. 13 years is twice the average nfl career.
I can’t take you seriously when you keep calling him a TE. He was a WR.
There’s no way he would’ve made that as a TE and most certainly not as a WR. Jason Witten has been around for 16 years as a top TE and has only made about 80 million. Julio Jones has made 114 in nine seasons. So unless Samardzija become a top five WR for 10+ years, there’s no way he’d make anywhere close to the same money as he has in baseball.
He’d probably be retired now, with less money and his health would definitely be worse after taking a beating in the NFL for around a decade. I don’t think he’d be happy making 80 less money, no longer be playing, and the effects on his body from playing football.
The NFL franchise tag for TE’s is 11m per year. For him to even make anywhere near that though, he’d have to play out some lower paid rookie years. So to make the 122m, he’d have to have been a top 10ish TE, and still played probably 13 years. I’d argue he made the right choice.
Unless you’re a QB, play baseball, if you’re able.
Sayonara bye bye Sharkie
He’s probably gone – then the Giants will sign him up for $1M in 2021 to re-establish his value. – so you WANT to turn the page but you just can’t
Nah, we really have no nostalgia with him. Time for Pence to do the right thing and go on the IL too.
The Shark has turned into Chum and Panda should be working at the Express!
#Letthekidsplay
5 years and $90 million. I wish I could be so mediocre as a math teacher and still nail this type of contract. Kids who can tell me 2+2? Anyone? No Michael not 4. Anyone else? Nancy? No I said 4 was wrong. Ok listen kids it’s 7. Now let’s move on to subtraction.
For me Samardzija is the most overrated baseball player I’ve ever seen in my life. Someone will give him a pillow contract this winter, but it’s a pretty sure bet it won’t be any of the teams he’s been with to this point in his career. Ever since he came up with CHC there have been a considerable number of people making excuses for why the results just don’t manifest for him. The fact is the guy just isn’t nearly as effective as he should be.
if you watch him regularly you know his issue, it is consistency. i still think he could be an effective relief arm for someone but he shouldn’t start. when he is going good it is: shutdown except when he leaks over the plate and they all go out which is why people say he pitches worse than his peripherals. if you limit his exposure in an outing he has the possibility of avoiding those leaks
If his problem is consistency he probably wouldn’t be the best reliever. Consistency is pretty important. He’s just a thrower that had good velocity and his ball moved. He had control problems throughout his career and just never really looked like he learned how to pitch.
Gigantes have some bright spots so far: Solano, Slater, Yaz, Gott, and Cueto.
I think we’ve seen enough of underpants, 300+ sandoval, samarja whatever, and the brandons…