Jeff Samardzija blasts Cubs and their wait 'til next year approach
Jeff Samardzija spent his first 7 1/2 years in the majors with the Cubs. He was on hand to see the Lovable Losers do what they do -- wait 'til next year as their World Series drought continued.
In the middle of 2014, the hard-throwing righty was dealt to the Athletics, where he spent the last half of that season. Samardzija was then dealt to the White Sox, spending last season with the Cubs' South Side rivals.
Samardzija eventually signed a 5-year, $90 million deal with the San Francisco Giants this winter.
But Samardzija told USA Today that the Cubs tried to keep him, hoping to sell him on the idea that the team's plethora of prospects would forecast a bright future. But the righty didn't go for it.
"It was the easy thing to do," Samardzija told the outlet. "You can always sell the future, and people always buy it. It's a great way to rebuild, and I understand that.
Jeff Samardzija spent the first 7 1/2 years in the majors with the Cubs.
"But as a veteran guy, it was becoming a joke.''
Samardzija said the Cubs offered him a five-year, $80 million extension in 2014, but he wasn't buying the idea of waiting on prospects who might not pan out.
"I just got so sick of hearing about it,'' Samardzija said. "They had to do what they had to do, but as a professional, you always want to be competing, not hearing some rhetoric every year.
"There are certain things you don't forget.''
The Cubs received Addison Russell and minor-league outfielder Milly McKinney, two prized young players. Chicago brought up Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber last season and spent big money on Jon Lester, Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist the past two offseasons.
The Cubs' patience paid off last season, as the Cubs made it to the NLCS but eventually lost to the Mets.
