When the Giants signed Jeff Samardzija following the 2015 season, his durability was a driving factor for the then-defending champs. The Shark put up 411 innings over his first two seasons, but the back three years of the deal have been marred by persistent injury. After just 44 2/3 innings in 2018, Samardzija did manage to rebound for 181 1/3 innings as a 34-year-old last season with a 3.32 ERA/4.59 FIP. This season it’s been more injury woes for the Hoosier.
Now that his contract is set to run out at the end of this season, the Giants are still working to get Samardzija back into uniform, but they’re running out of time. The veteran righty made just 3 starts this season before being put on the injured list with a shoulder impingement. Samardzija threw 50 pitches in a simulated game on Saturday, and while he could return to the rotation, the Giants are considering a move to the bullpen, per Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. Given the shortened timeline for this season, and the lack of traditional avenues for rehab starts, the bullpen might be the only way Samardzija pitches again in a Giants uniform.
It wouldn’t be the first time Samardzija worked out of the pen. He began his career as a reliever for the Chicago Cubs way back in 2008. He would throw one inning in relief for the Cubs in the postseason that year while getting swept out of the playoffs by the Dodgers. It wasn’t until 2012 that he would establish himself in the rotation with 28 starts and a 3.81 ERA/3.55 FIP. And it wasn’t until 2016 that he’d find himself in the postseason again, this time with the Giants – facing the Cubs. Chicago would run him after two innings and defeat the Giants on the way to breaking their World Series drought.
All these years later, there would be some poetry to Samardzija finding himself back in the bullpen for a Giants squad fighting to make the postseason. When healthy, Samardzija has continued to be a useful arm, and he’ll be an interesting free agent at season’s end, if a low-cost one. The Shark may no longer be at the top of the food chain, but if he can return to help the Giants’ pen, Samardzija might be able to circle the free agent waters for one last payday.
in hindsight that contract makes so little sense given the swings in his numbers from year to year
You can say that about almost every contract in MLB
um, no? compare his ERAs in the years prior to his signing with the Giants. they varied wildly by year, more then they tend to for guys signed to huge contracts.
I was excited when we signed him, along with Cueto. However I cringe every time he takes the mound these days. Last season was a bright spot in a dreadful contract, so there was some hope. If he even pitched anywhere close to last year without the IL the Giants would easily be above .500! At least the end is on the horizon for that contract. I’m personally excited for a couple of our youngsters, but we’re going to have room to buy selective pieces next season, and continue to improve
It was a win-now contract. Samardzija was very good first half of 2016 and a big reason why they made the playoffs that year. If the Giants didn’t blow a 5-2 lead in the 9th vs. the Cubs in game 4 they would’ve had all the momentum heading to Wrigley with Cueto on the bump for game 5. Very good chance that if their bullpen doesn’t faulted for that one game, the Giants make a run at a 4th WS.
Shark stunk the year before. Even the Dodgers who had just lost Greinke didn’t want to touch him for that price. And a forfeited high draft pick. Terrible contract.
@Baseball 1600 I just looked up Samardzija’s 2016 first half and he was more like league average. He was better in his second half. His best month was May if that’s what you are talking about but he had a longer sustained elite performance in August and September.
Hindsight? Actually the contract worked out a lot better for the Giants than I or a lot of other people expected it to. Still a bad contract, but much less insane than it first appeared to give $20M a year to a 31 year old who just led the league in hits allowed, earned runs allowed and home runs allowed and had been generally mediocre the rest of his career. They had a theory they could fix him, and it turns out they were right.
@DarkSide830 I agree it was a stupid signing. He had a terrible year with ChiSox before we signed him. Not a good signing by Booby. But Shark did seem to find something 2nd half of last year. Was hoping to see that again and injury got in the way. Too bad.
it was a horrible signing when they did it – not because of the money which the giants can handle fine, not even because of the years which are too many but because it cost the giants a 1st round pick when the system was already massively depleted
The Giants were not defending champs at the time they signed him. That was a year earlier.
Why bother? He’s just not a very good pitcher. He has always been an average pitcher. He’s a really good wide receiver though
An average pitcher seems to have value these days
When he was an average pitcher who could eat 200 innings a season, that had value. Average pitchers who are injury-prone are a dime a dozen.
The San Francisco Giants. Lol
Frisco baseball writers and fans are all excited because the Giants faced off against the D-backs this weekend ( Bad vs Worse) and reached the .500 mark yesterday. I’ve never seen a fanbase more excited about such a mediocre achievement ..500 is mediocrity at it’s finest.
Sure we’re excited. We have our first decent offense in years and the team is rebuilding to respectability. We know the D-Backs aren’t good. Don’t comflate our happiness with thinking that we believe a contender is soon. And by the way, you show your ignorance by calling SF, “Frisco.” Frisco is a village in Colorado.
While you’re at it, don’t call it San Fran either
Wait, wait, so because you don’t know what you’re talking about and/or what the city you’re trashing is called is “why Giants fans get hammered at MLBTR”?
I’m pretty sure it’s all the jealous haters that can’t stand that by WS wins and appearances SF is the most successful team of the last decade and arguably this century, ignorant d-bags are just out to trash anything SF or California, and they know they’ve got to get all their smack talk in while the Giants are struggling because they won’t be for long
Also don’t forget that the Giants have more players in the Hall of Fame than any other team. Giants fan here in Dallas.
Giants fans are excited because they went through the roughest part of their schedule, and are coming out of it at .500 and with momentum. Given that people like you were talking about how they’re one of the worst teams in baseball, that IS an accomplishment.
Weird that you’re upset that Giants fans are…fans of the Giants? Why are you so mad that fans are excited that their team is playing well? Isn’t that what’s supposed to happen.
Oh, and it’s well known not to call it “Frisco” it’s the cringeworthy equivalency of someone unironically calling a joint a “doobie” or a sandwich a “sando”
Where did you get that stat? The Yankees have, by far, the most Hall of Famers. Post a link to something that says otherwise.
It’s true that the Yankees have had the most players in the HOF as Yankees. But the Giants have had the most Hall of Famers play for them at some point 61-52. Source: BBref
No, I think he was trying to onfer that you can’t possibly know what SF fans are thinking, if you don’t even know how they refer to San Francisco as. We also like the fact we’re 4-6 against the Dodgers, which shows we could beat them in a 5 game series.
Nothing you can say would make me “Butthurt.” I’m a fan, just like you. The difference is I don’t need to rant and spit on people. Since your name is “LetHimSmoke,” why don’t you do just that and calm yourself.
baseball2080:
Not sure how you can make a distinction of any player playing for a team as a HoFer. If they’re in the Hall, they’re in for what they did for their careers.
And what I found at BBRef has the Giants with 57 Hofers to 46 for the NYYs.
baseball-reference.com/teams/
You are the only getting hammered.
@Lethimtrollagain which Giants fan took your wife?
LethimSmoke:
So the Giant’s wins over the D’backs shouldn’t count because AZ is bad? So then I guess we should discount the Dodgers’ record as well with their 6 wins against AZ.
Wow, you really need to dig for something negative to say about the Giants.
You’re laughing at the Giants? Why? As of today, Yankees record is only one win better. Or is it the 3 Championship Rings while the Yanks won none since 2000? Just enjoy your team (it’s mighty good) and stop trolling others. Giants are on the rebound—maybe not a championship this year or next, but it’s coming . . .
@Pete If you are counting the year 2000, the Yankees have two titles. One if you start counting after 2000. Either way, it’s not none.
You’re wasting your time Joe. Giants fans don’t know how to reference such information. They’re stubborn and dumb. This is an insular provincial fanbase .They are not interested in data , facts or proper analysis.
Its great that you can use a thesaurus, but you don’t make any concrete claims or use any actual facts or evidence in your opinion filled and completely bereft of knowledge “Giants lol” posts
How dare YOU say Giants fans don’t ref info, etc…?
I’ve never once seen any analysis or thought put into any of your posts
And to call others stubborn and dumb after you eagerly jump into every Giants article to post such sophomoric and obviously insecure attacks are literally the definition of stubborn and dumb
Why the Giants got ya up at night bro!?
Sounds like they make ya tinkle in your little shorts whenever they come up
World Championships.
Joe DiMaggio, a San Francisco native.
I see you added another alias. How many do you have now? I count 15. And you always give yourself a thumbs up. What a narcissist. I guess because you don’t have any friends. You have to make yourself feel better somehow.
Jam band disco
@27 which Giants fan hurt you?
Have you looked at the Yankees lately. What a mess. They probably won’t make the playoffs this year. They’ve got half a billion dollars sitting on the IL. Doesn’t Stanton’s deal run for a decade or two? What a joke!! Only a loser could get excited about a team run that pathetically.
@theYankeesmoron Didn’t you say before the year they wouldn’t win 20 games??? Welp they’re sitting at 21 with just under a third of the way still to go.
Also have fun playing 2nd fiddle to the Rays out east. Yankees will still be with the Giants watching the World Series from home
He was a golden domer not a Hoosier! But from Indiana, yes
Samardzjia threw his fastball, cutter, slider very effectively last year. His velocity and accuracy of all three pitches have decreased in his limited appearances this year. He has been very up and down year to year. If he could come back with two effective pitches then he would make sense in shorter appearances. When he isn’t able to vary what he throws he becomes too predictable.
@geg42 Shark’s 4 seamer was elite last year. Spin rate was in mlb top 3 %. Not 100% but I think the injury this year took away one of his off speed pitches and he had a hard time putting hitters away.
Best thing for Giants and Shark. He throws 95 as a starter and should be able to ramp that up in short stints. He needs to ditch his 2 seamer and go straight 4 seamer and curve with an occasional changeup.
He doesn’t throw 95 anymore. Barely 92, but always leaves it up. That’s been his biggest problem. Leaves it out, and eventually gets hit deep every game.
The shark was a shark with the A’s. While having a short season for the A’s, I always like Jeff Samardzjia, just a workhorse!
What an impressive swath of puns, Mr. Zencka
Maybe he could be another Dennis Eckersly
Nice puns TJ!
Once upon a time the Shark threw triple digit heat. He’s now in the low 90’s. After seeing first hand what happened to Drew Pomeranz last year (totally revived his career after hesitatinly moving to the bullpen), maybe the Shark would be open to relief (not that he’d have much choice). I think he’d be good. The Giants need another righty out of the bullpen anyway. Plus they’ve got Reyes Moronta who might come back this month and Drew Smyly (who pitched well with a renewed fastball) who will.
On another note for Giants fans it turns out that the Panda went through Covid-hell this season. His wife and 2 kids had Covid. His wife was in the ICU. They’re all better now. Panda played his first game at 3rd base last night since Tommy John. He’s 50 pounds overweight and not hitting. The Giants clearly kept him for solidarity and I hope he comes up with some big hits down the stretch
18 games left. 4 with surging Seattle, 3 with Oakland, 4 with Colorado and 7 with San Diego who is probably the second best team in baseball. Seriously, except for their games against Arizona and the Angels the Giants have had THE toughest schedule in baseball. This was supposed to be the “easy” part of the schedule. The Giants are 13-5 over their last 18. They need to go 8-10 over their next 18 to have any chance.
I love watching other fans slam a rebuilding team. Yes, they suck. They’re supposed too because sustained success is going to occasionally lead to a rebuild or reload. Is there another team other than the Red Sox that has won more championships this millennium? I give the Red Sox the advantage but it’s a close thing right now because the Giants are further along in reloading than the Red Sox.
The Giants are a model team as far as I’m concerned. They do two things well. They develop pitching and they develop catching. That is a very dynamic combination.
If history is any reflection of the future than there are 27 or 28 other teams wishing their team development was as consistently good as the Giants.
Thing is that the rebuilding Giants don’t suck. They are at .500, in contention, and the breakout of Yaz has been one of the best storylines in baseball. They will be better next year, yes, but they have surprised everyone by playing very good baseball while rebuilding at the same time.
should move him to bathroom attendant..guy was never that good
Why are the Giants so scared to just commit to rebuilding? They’ll be much better off for it in the long run.
The Giants are rebuilding. What do you think they are doing?
If that’s the case why didn’t they trade Gausman the rental?
The giants are 75-71 since May of last year. Almost no money on the books after next year; and a ton of space under their usual salary spending. They also have a borderline top 10 farm system right now. They don’t need to rebuild. They’re a competitive baseball team today.
No they are not a competitive team today and yes they do need to rebuild.
@jim
So which teams are competitive if the Giants are not? There are only 4 teams with a better record in the NL (Dodgers, Braves, Padres, Cubs). I really want to hear this.
There is no answer because Jim is just trotting out a stale narrative that all rebuilding teams suck and can’t compete. That’s not the case with the Giants, who are playing about as well as can be expected. They are exceeding expectations, even, having been in contention at the deadline last year and this year once again.
@ChocoRolles You’re forgetting the Phillies, Marlins and Cardinals. The Giants are literally in the middle of the league record-wise. The only reason they’re even close to the playoffs is because of the ridiculous expanded playoff pool. And as Scottn59c said, they are in over their heads being even that good. It won’t last. And unless they commit to the rebuild it will get worse before it gets better.
@Scottn59c they weren’t in contention last year and not trading Bum and Smith blew up in their faces.
Even with last year’s playoffs structure, the Giants would be 1 game out of a playoff spot.
Jim, Maybe the reasons given for not trading those two by management (offers not good enough) are legit reasons.Maybe teams weren’t willing to trade prospects for the two because maybe teams didn’t value the two that much because maybe they expected the major regressions this year by Bum and Smith. Giants still got draft picks due to the rejected offers by bum and smith. And, again, they’re they both are huge disappointments.
So maybe the only thing blowing up in any faces is your blow up doll Jim. Try to use less hot air
@claude there’s no way no one offered the Giants something better than 2nd-3rd round sandwich picks for each of Bumgarner and Smith. And as far as Bumgarner and Smith regressing this year, even if other teams could have predicted that it wouldn’t have mattered because they were both rentals. Teams don’t care about how one of their guys plays AFTER he becomes a free agent. Only before.
I never followed him so i dont know but maybe they thought he was a player that brakes out when they get older. JD, Yaz, JoeyBats type player
99% of all multi year contracts signed to players commencing at age 31 or later turn out to be money poorly spent.
Almost all of the people posting their comments are petty and immature. Allow others to their own opinions and maybe just point out important issues, then comment appropriately.
Anyway, the Cueto and Shark signings are already in the past and nearing its end. Besides, hindsight’s is 20/20. There were some good and bad outings from both. Shark had a course of seasons were control and BB were decent. Cueto is a joy to watch when his game is on, albeit too few. Krukow and Kuip call him a gamer.
Thank you.
Not course but couple.