10 biggest MLB pitching disappointments of 2015

No. 2 Jeff Samardzija

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija has certainly made the case to be the biggest disappointment among MLB pitchers in 2015. The only thing preventing him from being No. 1 on the list is the fact that the White Sox are only paying him $9.8 million on a one-year contract.

During the offseason, Chicago sent four players to the Oakland A’s in exchange for Samardzija and right-handed reliever Michael Ynao. The White Sox saw the trade as an opportunity to pair an elite pitcher with ace Chris Sale. With Samardzija joining Sale, Felix Hernandez, Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer as the only pitchers to record 200 strikeouts in each of the past two seasons, the organization thought it had found the final piece necessary to turn the team into a legitimate contender.

Unfortunately, the White Sox have been out of playoff contention for virtually the entire season, and Samardzija is having his worst season since becoming a full-time starting pitcher in 2012.

His ERA has soared to 5.27, and he has given up the most hits and earned runs in baseball this year. Only three pitchers have allowed more home runs, and he will not reach the 200-strikeout mark after watching his strikeouts per nine innings rate drop to 1.2 below his career average.

A poor performance in 2015 does not appear as if it will have much of a negative impact on Samardzija when he hits the free agent market this offseason, however. According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, a contract in the area of four years and $75 million could be a possibility.

Next: No.1 Ervin Santana