ChiSox, Samardzija settle at $9.8 million

Jan 16, 2015 - 11:27 PM Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - The Chicago White Sox and pitcher Jeff Samardzija have agreed on a $9.8 million contract for the 2015 season, avoiding arbitration.

The White Sox also avoided arbitration with catcher Tyler Flowers on Friday, locking him up for $2.675 million.

Samardzija was traded twice in 2014, first by the Cubs to Oakland in a five- player deal in July. He was acquired from the Athletics last month in a six- player trade.

The big right-hander had a 2.99 ERA in 33 combined starts for the Cubs and A's with 202 strikeouts in 219 2/3 innings. He was named to the NL All-Star team but was ineligible to play in the game after he was traded.

Samardzija's career record is 36-48, including a 7-13 mark last year. He had a 3.85 ERA over 222 major league games, including 99 starts.

Flowers batted .241 with 15 home runs and 50 RBI in 127 games last season -- all career highs. He ranked second in the AL with a .553 slugging percentage in the second half of the season.