Chicago Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija has not hid his thoughts on the organization’s decisions and his contract negotiations.
The 29-year-old right hander is signed though the 2015 season but the two sides have already attempted contract negotiations and thus far they have not gone well. Samardija told reporters on Friday that he is starting to realize the business aspect of baseball.
“The emotional attachment I have to this organization, a lot of times you just give the benefit of the doubt,” Samardzija said, via Chicago Tribune. “It’s just the way it works because of the way I feel about being here and how bad I want to be here. The more this process goes along, the more I realize it is a business and that (feeling) only goes so far.
“All I can do is increase my value as much as possible, and in the end it’s going to help this organization no matter what. It either helps the organization by keeping me here and proving I’m that guy, or I increase my value and get prospects in return (for the Cubs).”
Samardzija finished last season with a 4.34 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP in 213 2/3 innings of work last season. The Cubs recently avoided arbitration with him agreeing to a contract worth $5.345 million for 2014.
