Cubs Close To Signing Samardzija

[msneezie31]

According to the Chicago Sun Times

CINCINNATI -- The Cubs expect to reach a four- or five-year contract agreement later this week with fifth-round draft pick Jeff Samardzija, the Notre Dame wide receiver who is intent on being a professional pitcher.

Mark Rodgers, Samardzija's adviser, is coming to Chicago midweek to hammer out the details of the deal. The Cubs should have an announcement before the weekend ends.

The plan is for Samardzija to pitch for the Boise Hawks in the Class A Northwest League. Their season opens June 19, and Notre Dame opens football practice in the first week of August.

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry and Rodgers will have to get creative in how they structure the contract for a two-sport athlete with designs on playing in the NFL and the major leagues. Look for the money to be backloaded and dependent on which sport he chooses to concentrate on in the next few years.

That means the money for Samardzija starting out shouldn't be that staggering. Mark Prior, for example, got $10 million for five years after the Cubs selected him second overall in 2001. But because of his unique circumstances, Samardzija still was available in the fifth round.

[Roy31]

Crazy, he was expected to be a high draft pick in the NFL.

[msneezie31]

Yeah, i thought of him as maybe another Ed McCaffrey, then again, he could be another Tom Waddle. But the expectations are high, especially with Heisman front runner Brady Quinn under center.

[Roy31]

So is he going to be playing his senior year of football?

[McKain]

Yep, he'll be playing both baseball and football this year.

Also, he's probably the #2 WR eligible to come out next year, behind Calvin Johnson. It's going to be crazy.

[Roy31]

Crazy stuff... I think Ted Ginn and Dwayne Jarrett along with Calvin Johnson are all better elgible WR's. But he's still a good prospect.

[msneezie31]

Being white kind of hurts his stock wouldnt you say? Who is the highest drafted white WR since 2000??

[Roy31]

Yeah I suppose so. Highest drafted white WR since 2000 would probably Matt Jones last year converted from QB.

[msneezie31]

Ohhh true, good point, but he was a freak of nature with his size. I guess Samardzija could be another one of them

[McKain]

Ginn hasn't learned how to catch yet, so he's not above Samardzija.

Jarrett is more talented but the question is whether or not he'll be coming out.

[redsfan28]

Ginn hasn't learned how to catch yet, so he's not above Samardzija.

Jarrett is more talented but the question is whether or not he'll be coming out.

Jarrett's gay?

[MarinersFan87]

Jarrett's gay?

Duh. Him and Mark Sanchez hook up all the time now that Matty is out of town.

[awefullspellare]

This could be interesting. Let's get him on the Bears lol.

[Kingdom]

Well damn, it would have been cool to see a talented white receiver in the NFL.

[Providence A's]

Yep, he'll be playing both baseball and football this year.

was he drafted in the NFL? or he's going to back to school? If he's going back to school, how can he play college football if he's playing minor league baseball? Doesn't that mean he loses his amatuer status?