The Chicago Cubs have been quiet during the offseason with very little additions in the free agent market and after missing out on signing Japanese import Masahiro Tanaka the focus for the Cubs front office has been to avoid going to arbitration with their own players.
With arbitration hearings taking place during the first three weeks of February, the club still has yet to come to terms with Gold Glove second baseman Darwin Barney and more importantly starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija.
Team and Samardzija still on pace for arb hearing which would be first under Theo.Sides can't agree sky is blue!Still time and can change
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) January 31, 2014
The subject of numerous trade rumors this offseason, including persistent ones involving the Toronto Blue Jays, Samardzija appears unlikely to sign a deal to keep him in Chicago for the long term, but will they be able to avoid arbitration where they would have to present a case against their No. 1 starter?
Cubs and Jeff Samardzija still jousting for a deal. Source said sides were 100k apart . Median on two Arbitration figures would be $5.3.Mil
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) January 30, 2014
If the information from Levine’s source is indeed accurate then you’d have to think the two parties would be able to compromise on a measly $100,000, right?
Both sides have been stubborn in the negotiations–as they should–but until one side caves this appears headed to arbitration because they’re running out of time.