Jeff Samardzija: 3 Best Fantasy Free Agent Landing Spots
By Brad Kelly
When Jeff Samardzija came to the White Sox it looked as though that they found a solid co ace to follow the dominant Chris Sale. Like most things for the White Sox though in 2015, Samardzija would go on to fall right on his face and struggle mightily all year.
There are a lot of theories for what actually went wrong for Samardzija ranging from his inconsistent delivery, both his slider and splitter hanging more in the zone, and a big spike in his BABIP. Somewhere in all that the solution resides, but for the next team that signs him it will up to them to iron out. Samardzija still has tons of promise and he will have multiple suitors, so here are three of the best fantasy landing spots for him in 2016.
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Chicago Cubs
A Cubbie reunion makes sense as Samardzija debuted and had most of his success with them over his first handful of seasons. He had sub 3.50 ERA seasons in the past with them and he would be served well to leave the American League and transition back to weaker lineups and more advantageous ball parks.
The Cubs have the funds to bring him in and top tier ace, so pairing him with a combination of Arrieta/Price/Lester would be a solid core. If Samardzija lands back on the North Side, don’t be afraid to gamble on a rebound in 2016.
San Francisco Giants
As the Giants looks to upgrade their rotation they could look at Samardjiza as a fallback option if they miss out on the top free agent options. The move from U.S. Cellular Field to AT & T, would be a huge fantasy boost and offer him a chance to immediately regain the good graces of fantasy owners.
He posted a, 3.14 ERA/99 K line with the A’s during the second half of 2014, so a move to the Giants would warrant owners to think that he could replicate that sort of production over a full season. If he lands here, target him as a huge buy low candidate and enjoy the spoils he could offer in San Fran.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Each year it seems like the Pirates target a free agent pitcher whose value is at its lowest and somehow turn him around into an absolute gem. While Samardzija would warrant more than a one or two year commitment, the Pirates could bring him as reclamation project and turn him into a third ace of their staff.
If Samardzija could find a way to Pittsburgh, his value should see an absolute turnaround as the Pirates resume of fixing pitchers speaks for itself. As in the case of the Giants, if he finds himself here he is a prime candidate to be a bounce back candidate in 2016. Pay close attention to how his market unfolds.