KC Royals Rumors: James Shields To San Diego Talk Swirls

Former Kansas City Royals ace James Shields expects to sign this week. KC Royals rumors suggest San Diego as the most likely destination.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweeted Friday:

The #Padres, where James Shields makes his home, have to be considered favorites for his services. We will soon find out if they get him.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 6, 2015

ESPN.com’s Buster Olney concurs:

There is a growing sense among some of the folks involved in James Shields conversations that he will probably land with the Padres.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) February 6, 2015

According to MLB Trade Rumors.com, the Padres max payroll for 2015 is $105 million. The Friars currently have $84 million in 2015 obligations due to the Los Angeles Dodgers picking up $18 million of Matt Kemp‘s contract.

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In short, not only do the Padres appear to have the salary flexibility, Shields makes his off-season home in San Diego, and the team is going-for-it in 2015 after acquiring Kemp, Justin Upton, and Wil Myers during a busy offseason.

Notice that last name? If James Shields signs with San Diego, both principals of the famed Myers/Shields deal between the Kansas City Royals and the Tampa Bay Rays will play for the Padres. The Friars apparently hope that Shields can be a veteran leader in San Diego just like he was for a young staff in Kansas City.

Certainly, Shields has plenty of experience facilitating a culture change. He helped both the Rays and Royals overcome long-term losing to win American League pennants (Rays 2008, Royals 2014).

Shields would also enjoy a pitcher friendly park in San Diego, much like his home parks in Tampa Bay and Kansas City. Given spacious new digs, you would have to expect that Shields to improve on his career 3.72 ERA in a league where pitchers hit.

Signing in San Diego would make sense.

Fortunately for Shields, the Padres aren’t the only suitor. MLB Trade Rumors reports both the Chicago Cubs and the Toronto Blue Jays are also in the mix. However, Houston Astros ower Jim Crane told the Houston Chronicle he doesn’t believe his team will sign Shields.

Earlier in the off-season, Kansas City Royals general manager Dayton Moore also indicated he was still “monitoring” Shields’ contract situation, suggesting that the Royals could still bring back their 2014 staff ace and clubhouse leader. Yet, the KC Royals would likely have to make a flurry of deals to make room for Shields on their payroll.

I have to admit, if the KC Royals can’t find a place for Shields, I’d be amused to see him play in San Diego with Myers. Not only would San Diego become a future trivia answer, we’d get a great way to compare their relative values.

The one fly in the ointment for Big Game James is he won’t have the kind of outfield defense in San Diego that he did in Kansas City. Wil Myers is slated to play center-field in San Diego, flanked by mediocre-at-best glove men Matt Kemp and Upton.

If Shields signs with the Padres, he’s going to really miss what he had in Lorenzo Cain, Jarrod Dyson, and Alex Gordon.

Next: James Shields Return Looking More Likely

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