The Giants didn’t land either of the two biggest fish on the free-agent pitching market. So they hooked themselves a shark.
They signed Jeff Samardzija to a five-year contract, placing a $90 million bet that the right-hander’s stuff and durability will play much better than last season when he pitched for the Chicago White Sox and led the American League in hits and earned runs.
The contract is pending a physical. An official announcement is expected on Tuesday.
Samardzija will earn an average of $18 million per season – far less than what will be due to left-hander David Price ($31 million times seven years from the Red Sox) and right-hander Zack Greinke (roughly $34 million over six years from the Diamondbacks).