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Looking up the highest salaries in baseball it looks to me like the going market for a legitimate #1 starter seems to start at about 20 million per.

While I have no idea what Tanaka will cost lets just say for **** and giggles we do end up having to go something like 7/140 to sign him.

My question to the board is this...

Who would you think would be the safest bet for that contract?

Tanaka or Samardzija?

I dont particularly want to give Samardzija that much but if I had to choose one or the other I think I'd go with Samardzija.

Strop's deal is for $1.325 million. 

Cubs filed $4.4 million for Samardzija, while Samardzija is asking for $6.2 million.

Looking up the highest salaries in baseball it looks to me like the going market for a legitimate #1 starter seems to start at about 20 million per.

While I have no idea what Tanaka will cost lets just say for ****s and giggles we do end up having to go something like 7/140 to sign him.

My question to the board is this...

Who would you think would be the safest bet for that contract?

Tanaka or Samardzija?

I dont particularly want to give Samardzija that much but if I had to choose one or the other I think I'd go with Samardzija.

I think your numbers for a #1/2 starter are low.  Salaries for baseball players are going to get very expensive with all of the TV money.  I think that Kershaw's AAV at $30 million will become cheap.  So if your asking I'd take both of them at $20 million/year and be very happy.  If I had to go 7 years, I'd prefer Tanaka to Samardzija just do to age.  I'd really like to avoid giving any pitcher 7 years though.

Bruce Miles ‏@BruceMiles2112 2m
In 17 years on The #Cubs beat, that was The most subdued opening ceremony I've witnessed at convention

Looking up the highest salaries in baseball it looks to me like the going market for a legitimate #1 starter seems to start at about 20 million per.

While I have no idea what Tanaka will cost lets just say for ****s and giggles we do end up having to go something like 7/140 to sign him.

My question to the board is this...

Who would you think would be the safest bet for that contract?

Tanaka or Samardzija?

I dont particularly want to give Samardzija that much but if I had to choose one or the other I think I'd go with Samardzija.

There is no requirement that EITHER be given that kind of money.  Smardj has been around for a while now, is no longer a young pitcher, and has never established himself as an ace.  Giving that kind of money to someone under contract and control, who has never established himself as an ace, AND who is not young, makes no sense.  Smardj could not get that kind of contract if he were a total free agent.

But Jes is always right and he especially loves to disagree with me Dave. I thought you knew that?

I've seen several tweets tonight about Samardzija saying something like "If Tanaka signs, the 'R word' [rebuilding] kind of disintegrates." It almost sounds like he's saying it'll be easier to get him to stick around long term if the Cubs get Tanaka. 

This is a $20 million pitcher over the last 2 years, Tim Lincecum

20-29, K% 23, BB% 10, ERA- 132, FIP- 109, xFIP- 96, SIERA 3.86, ERA 4.76, FIP 3.95, xFIP 3.68 fWAR 2.5

Giants record 170-154.

Samardzija

17-26, K% 24.1, BB% 8.2, ERA- 103, FIP- 93, xFIP- 89, SIERA 3.51, ERA 4.10, FIP 3.67, xFIP 3.42, fWAR 5.8

Cubs 127-197

People need to realize that we are going to see a lot of wage inflation that we haven't seen for a long time.