1/20/2007

Welcome, Cub fans. Welcome, Irish fans?

Not sure if this has been stressed enough on this blog but, Ryne Sandberg is going to be the manager of the Peoria Cubs this season and will be making his managerial debut on April 5 at Fox Cities Stadium.

But, now there is this potential addition to the star power of the Chiefs this season:

Cubs' Samardzija commits to baseball
Standout wide receiver at Notre Dame forgoes football career

CHICAGO -- Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Samardzija has decided to commit fully to baseball, and on Friday signed a five-year, $10 million Major League contract with the Chicago Cubs, who selected the pitcher in the fifth round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

The deal includes two option years -- both club options -- and it could pay the right-hander $16.5 million. It also includes a $2.5 million signing bonus that Samardzija will return to the Cubs if he decides at any point to pursue another sport -- whether it's football, lacrosse, soccer, whatever.


What about bowling? Can he join the PBA Tour if he wanted?
Samardzija had been projected as a mid-first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Instead, he'll likely be toeing the mound at Class A Advanced Daytona.

Samardzija pitched two games for the Chiefs last season. The question is: Will the Cubs push him past Peoria to start the 2007 season and get him to the warmer weather in the Florida State League?

That decision will be made sometime in spring training.

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