Jeff Samardzijalkjer to play pro baseball

mmbt0ne · #1 01-20-2007, 01:06 PM

Chicago Cubs. 5 yrs. $10M.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2736354

Karak567 · #2 01-20-2007, 01:08 PM

Working every 5th day in a comfortable environment for all guaranteed money or working hard every single day, getting the snot beat out of you every 7th AND the money isn't guaranteed

seems like it was an easy choice for him

PokerFink · #3 01-20-2007, 01:08 PM

I wonder if he hangs out with Ben Roethlisberzalkerjer?

BeneathTheWheel · #4 01-20-2007, 02:14 PM

easy choice to make, as even a mediocre SP makes as much as a top flight NFL receiver, with much less workload/chance of injury and much longer average career. plus he can always go back to football later.

HajiShirazu · #5 01-20-2007, 02:20 PM

Is this a standard contract for a pitcher of his calibre, or did they have to offer him more $ to keep him out of the NFL?

Scary_Tiger · #6 01-20-2007, 02:28 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Is this a standard contract for a pitcher of his calibre, or did they have to offer him more $ to keep him out of the NFL?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's a more $ to keep him out of the NFL deal.

EvanJC · #7 01-20-2007, 02:32 PM

its pretty similar to priors first contract, isnt it?

Pudge714 · #8 01-20-2007, 02:45 PM

[ QUOTE ]
with much less workload/chance of injury and much longer average career.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think that's wrong.

TheNoodleMan · #9 01-20-2007, 03:03 PM

He has said in the past that his dream was to play for the Cubs and Bears. It is pretty unlikely that he'd get picked by the Bears so he chose to play for his favorite baseball team.

The thing I find most interesting is that he has a no trade clause. I imagine it is very unusual for a guy to have a no trade clause when he has never played a game in the majors.

tdarko · #10 01-20-2007, 03:03 PM

"Working every 5th day in a comfortable environment for all guaranteed money or working hard every single day, getting the snot beat out of you every 7th AND the money isn't guaranteed

seems like it was an easy choice for him"

I dunno, I actually think it was very tough choice. He was an above average pitcher with exceptional "stuff" in one of the worst conferences in the country. His bonus is guaranteed and that is REAL nice but he still has to get to the big leagues to make any money after that. Until then it is [censored] traveling, [censored] pay and a [censored] life. And realistically he won't be anywhere close to the upper echelon of pitchers in camp, now what he does have for him is a high ceiling and a TON of money invested in him, and money means opportunity, the more money invested the more time they will spend with him, the more roving instructors he will get and the more chances he will get. For instance, in A ball he can go out and have an 8 ERA and everything is gravy cause he is the Bonus Baby but a guy with just as good of stuff drafted in the 18 the round and little money can go out, have a couple of rough starts in inclement weather and be shipped out just like that.

What was he a fringe first to second round pick this year in football? I actually am not sure but that is what I thought I had heard. He would be in the NFL next year and he is getting paid. I actually think the decision is a coin flip, you go to the NFL you are there earning your pay, time etc. You go to baseball and its a struggle and you are a taking a chance but he is going to have a lot more opportunities when compared to the guys around him no matter if he is performing poorly.