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Dodgers Missed Out on a Golden Opportunity To Sign James Shields
By Scott Andes
The Dodgers could have had James Shields. I’m not saying they had to have him to win a championship. However I think they missed out on a bargain. They could have had him too. Shields signed a four-year 75 million dollar contract with the Dodger’s division rival San Diego Padres. The deal was announced on Monday, and is reported to have a 16 million dollar option, which could bring the total net worth of the deal at 91 million dollars.
Elsa/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
According to Joel Sherman, the Shields team pursued the Dodgers. Apparently the Dodgers did consider a run at Shields. However they were never going to make him an offer as high as he got with San Diego. According to Buster Olney, the Dodgers were looking for something far more cost-effective. That definition of cost-effective has Brett Anderson written all over it. Of course they didn’t want to spend anything.
The Dodgers discussed an offer with James Shields, but LAD was looking for something more cost effective; $ weren't close to his final deal.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) February 9, 2015
I still say they missed out though. Yes I know they would have lost a first round draft pick by signing him, but I don’t care about that. I keep hearing all of the rhetoric about Shields commanding too much money.
He didn’t get that much money, especially when you compare his contract to the other contracts of ace starters this winter. Jon Lester got 155 million dollars from the Cubs. Max Scherzer got something in the range of around 210 million from the Nationals. I think 75 million for Shields is a relative bargain. Shields is an ace, and even though he is 33 years old, he is still pretty darn good.
If you think it is not a good idea to sign a player just for the sake of blocking a division rival, I disagree. Now the Padres are a legitimate contender for the NL West title. I felt they were fringy competitive before Shields. Now I think they have a shot.
I don’t normally condone signing over age 30 players. I would like to see the Dodgers continue to build up their farm system like they have been doing. I am still impressed with the overall direction the brain trust is taking the club into. I have generally approved the rebuild of the roster this year.
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The world will go on. The Dodgers are still a good club, and they will be right there for the division title at the end of the season. However, if Anderson and McCarthy are not healthy, we are going to wish we had a Shields in the rotation. Not to mention you are not going to like facing Shields throughout the season. We could see a Clayton Kershaw versus Shields matchup on opening day.
To those who say they want a competitive division, and an exciting pennant race. Come on now. Is that what you really want? Do you actually want the Padres to succeed? Dealing with the Giants is already bad enough, but add the Padres into the mix and you might change your tune.
I don’t want a competitive division. I don’t want any of the other division rivals to be good. I want things nice and easy for the Dodgers all the way into the playoffs. I want the Dodgers to finish 20 games ahead of the Padres. I want the division crown to be a cakewalk for the boys in blue. I want the Dodgers to breeze into the postseason without any challenges. That sounds like a dream to me. That sounds like happiness, and happiness is never boring to me.
Honestly, I do not know if I can take another division race that goes down to the wire. It gives me agita. I want everything nice, easy and quiet this season.