San Francisco will surrender its first-round Draft pick with the signing because Samardzija declined the qualifying offer from the White Sox.
The 30-year-old Samardzija is coming off a disappointing 2015 season in which he posted a 4.96 ERA and allowed a league-high 228 hits, but he was still a popular target on the free-agent market because of his competitiveness, athleticism and durability.
Despite being a workhorse and posting three consecutive seasons of 200-plus innings, Samardzija doesn't have as many innings on his arm as the typical 30-year-old pitcher after beginning his career in the bullpen during his first four seasons with the Cubs.