Jeff Samardzija expected to reject Chicago White Sox qualifying offer

The Chicago White Sox extended a qualifying offer to starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija today, but he will decline, according to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score.

The one-year, $15.8 million deal may have held some appeal to a pitcher seeking to rebuild value after a disappointing season. The 30-year-old right-hander struggled for the White Sox in 2015, posting a 4.96 ERA over 32 starts. He allowed a league-most 228 hits, 118 earned runs and 29 homers in 214 innings.

That was a far cry from Samardzija’s performance a year earlier, which earned him an All-Star nod and made him a coveted asset at the trade deadline. He put up a 2.99 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 4.70 K/BB ratio over 33 total starts with the Cubs and A’s.

One of the most notable differences with Samardzija last season was a sizable drop in his strikeout rate. He averaged an 8.8 K/9 from 2011-2014, but fanned opposing batters at just a 6.9 K/9 clip in 2015. Mike Podhorzer of Fangraphs took a closer look at the issue back in September and determined that Samardzija wasn’t generating as many swings-and-misses with his splitter. The pitch was ending up in the strike zone more often than in previous years.

If Samardzija can adjust that moving forward, he may be able to recapture some of his previous success. But will teams be willing enough to bank on that possibility to give him the multi-year contract he’s looking for? He did finish the season on a high note, allowing only two runs over 16 innings in his last two outings.

CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman has identified the New York Yankees as potential suitors for the big righty several times over the past couple months. The Yanks were linked to Samardzija last year as well and may view him as a more affordable alternative to top free agent starters like David Price and Zack Greinke. The Detroit Tigers have also been mentioned as a possible destination.

Samardzija has until next Friday, November 13, to accept or decline the qualifying offer. The latter would of course result in draft pick compensation for the White Sox should he sign elsewhere.

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