The Chicago Cubs are listening to trade offers for starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija but they are not ruling out the option of re-signing the right hander either.
According to Cubs beat writer Bruce Levine, the Cubs offered Samardzija a contract that would have paid him $55 million over five years but when he spoke to Theo Epstein he was informed that “nothing has changed” in regards to contract progress.
Let me be clear ,Theo never mentioned any contract figure . Another source has indicted the Cub offer is higher than 5 yrs $55. Mil.
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) December 6, 2013
Samardzija is under club control through 2015 and after a modest bump in salary though arbitration he could reach $10 million in time for the 2015 season.
With or without Samardzija the Cubs are not expected to contend in the NL Central this season.
