Samardzija signs $133M MLB deal

  • 06/12/2015
Jeff Samardzija (Getty file)
Jeff Samardzija (Getty file)

As the San Francisco Giants try to recapture the form that won three of the past six World Series titles, they seek the same from pitcher Jeff Samardzija.

The Major League Baseball club agreed to a five-year deal worth US$90 million (NZ$133 million) with the 30-year-old right-handed hurler.

Samardzija was a 2014 All-Star who had a 2.99 earned-run average over 219 1/3 innings with the Oakland A's and Chicago Cubs.

But last season, he struggled with the Chicago White Sox, going 11-13 with a 4.96 earned-run average and 163 strikeouts over 214 innings.

Samardzija led the major leagues in two dubious categories, hits allowed and earned runs allowed, and gave up more home runs than any other pitcher in the American League.

Samardzija is likely to have more success at the Giants' pitcher-friendly home ballpark and among a powerful starting rotation that includes Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, Jake Peavy and Chris Heston.

The Giants won World Series crowns in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

AFP