Kaplan: Cubs 'kicking the tires' on SP James Shields

[TC in Mississippi]

If someone was offering 5 years, there wouldn't be a lot of teams still interested.

I am guessing he will sign for 3 years. 5 seems completely out of the question, though teams have surprised us before.

I think he'd do 3 with an option if it was the right team. I think that's why Cubs are sniffing up his tree because they think he might although I'm sure they're realistic enough to realize he probably won't. I think it's more likely that someone comes in with 4 years/$75 million. Still below market but you have to take the extra year.

 

[DewsSox79]

If someone was offering 5 years, there wouldn't be a lot of teams still interested.

I am guessing he will sign for 3 years. 5 seems completely out of the question, though teams have surprised us before.

the one report has him turning down 5/110 which is crazy. he should have jumped all over that.

 

[TL1961]

the one report has him turning down 5/110 which is crazy. he should have jumped all over that.

That was 6-8 weeks ago. He should have taken it, but there is speculation that it was either a team he really did not want to play for, or the offer was fabricated by his agent.

No way he has offers for 5 years today anywhere near that amount.

He will end up with a three year deal, or possibly a 4th year option. He could opt for a shorter deal to get one more shot at a longer deal, but next year's FA crop is loaded.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

That was 6-8 weeks ago. He should have taken it, but there is speculation that it was either a team he really did not want to play for, or the offer was fabricated by his agent.

No way he has offers for 5 years today anywhere near that amount.

He will end up with a three year deal, or possibly a 4th year option. He could opt for a shorter deal to get one more shot at a longer deal, but next year's FA crop is loaded.

Shields really misjudged this market, and possibly his market in particular. The 5/$110 was widely rumored to be from Detroit and he pushed for more knowing what they had set aside for Scherzer. Maybe he really didn't want to be a Tiger and thought if the one deal was there the same would come from SF, NY Yankees or others. Then they didn't. I still don't believe St. Louis isn't in this but it is looking like he wants to pitch out West and if it's not the Padres maybe he does push to be a Cub. I think he gets his 4 years $75 million if it's San Diego, something close if it's St. Louis and nor more than 3 years/$57 million if the Cubs jump in. I'm really hoping they don't btw.

 

[2323]

That was 6-8 weeks ago. He should have taken it, but there is speculation that it was either a team he really did not want to play for, or the offer was fabricated by his agent.

No way he has offers for 5 years today anywhere near that amount.

He will end up with a three year deal, or possibly a 4th year option. He could opt for a shorter deal to get one more shot at a longer deal, but next year's FA crop is loaded.

If his agent did plant the rumor about the 5/110M, this is a great example of how doing so can backfire on an agent. It's pretty believable. Agents do what they can to tweak the market to the benefit of their client. All this tactic did was magnify the agents failure that much more. The 5/110M has now added an extra layer of failure on top of the agent. It should be a cautionary tale and make agents think twice about planting information on offers, true or otherwise. But it probably won't.

 

[chibears55]

I just heard tonight that shields deciding between the cubs and Padres. ...


@Buster_ESPN: One official involved in the Shields bidding does not expect the final numbers will be as high as $80 million/4 yrs. We'll see.

 

[Bear Pride]

I just heard tonight that shields deciding between the cubs and Padres. ...


@Buster_ESPN: One official involved in the Shields bidding does not expect the final numbers will be as high as $80 million/4 yrs. We'll see.

Nice, I thought the Padres had him locked up.

 

[chibears55]

Nice, I thought the Padres had him locked up.

Im sure they have the upper hand being California (home state )..

Just have to see if playing for maddon again , possible better chance at playoffs, and maybe a better offer trumps playing at home state...


I only say possible better chance at playoffs because i think it will be tougher for SD in the west then the cubs in the Central

 

[Bear Pride]

Im sure they have the upper hand being California (home state )..

Just have to see if playing for maddon again , possible better chance at playoffs, and maybe a better offer trumps playing at home state...


I only say possible better chance at playoffs because i think it will be tougher for SD in the west then the cubs in the Central

That's pretty much why I thought the Padres had him locked up. Shields has said many times he's like to play in San Diego cuz that's where he lives. That's a huge advantage for the Padres. I'll be impressed if the Cubs can land him cuz of this. It will most likely take money to sign him, not the better chance of playoffs.

 

[2323]

That's pretty much why I thought the Padres had him locked up. Shields has said many times he's like to play in San Diego cuz that's where he lives. That's a huge advantage for the Padres. I'll be impressed if the Cubs can land him cuz of this. It will most likely take money to sign him, not the better chance of playoffs.

Agreed. Though most people don't realize the wind blows in at Wrigley more than it blows out, San Diego is still a much better pitchers park. I'm curious to know what San Diego is offering. Historically, they're not huge spenders but they really went all in with bringing in bats. Without pitching it's kind of a waste.

 

[Shawon0Meter]

Looking forward to Shields signing with SD just to have it over with.

 

[ChiSoxCity]

I agree they're the favorite, but If SD had such a big edge, he would have signed with them sooner.


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[Bear Pride]

I agree they're the favorite, but If SD had such a big edge, he would have signed with them sooner.


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This is what raises my eyebrow. The Cubs must be making it hard for him to sign with his home town team. With as much hype the Cubs have gotten this off season, the Pad's have done fairly well as well.

It makes me wonder how much value there is for Shields to play with Maddon again, and just how much money the Cubs are throwing around. You're right though, one would think that he'd sign with the Pad's already, so this is what I find exciting the longer it is taking, especially with the reports that he was to sign by the weeks end this past week. :dunno:

 

[Bear Pride]

Looking forward to Shields signing with SD just to have it over with.

Is this your attempt at reverse psychology? :dunno:

 

[Shawon0Meter]

lol.. maybe a little

But I feel like he's for sure going to San Diego, he's just not getting the money he wants from anyone. I feel like the Cubs and Jays and whoever else aren't thaat close and he's just holding out trying to make the Padres bid against themselves.

 

[Bear Pride]

lol.. maybe a little

But I feel like he's for sure going to San Diego, he's just not getting the money he wants from anyone. I feel like the Cubs and Jays and whoever else aren't thaat close and he's just holding out trying to make the Padres bid against themselves.

Well, I hope you're wrong.

Edit to add:

After reading this, you're probably right. He wants to play in SD, but they are not the highest offer. I think his agent keeps saying that other teams are in on Shields to get the Pad's to offer more money, but it appears that they will not budge knowing that he wants to play in SD. Hopefully, this pisses off Shields and he decides to take the Cubs offer cuz Maddon is the next best thing.

#GoCubs :cubs:

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Report: Padres told several teams heavily involved in Shields bidding

by R.J. White | CBSSports.com
Sat, 07 Feb 2015 5:18 PM ET

The Padres have been told that several teams remain heavily involved in the bidding for free-agent pitcher James Shields, USA Today reports.

The Padres "badly" want Shields and are still considered the favorites, but the two sides are considered at an impasse in negotiations, per Bleacher Report.

The Padres have reportedly made their final offer on the free-agent pitcher, and if multiple teams are indeed heavily involved in his market -- and it's unclear which teams are still involved in the bidding, per USA Today -- it's possible San Diego could be trumped at the 11th hour. However, teams rumored to be considering runs at Shields in free agency like the Cubs and Blue Jays don't fit his wish to pitch for a West Coast team.

Shields said earlier this week that he planned to sign a deal by the end of the week, so his long offseason of uncertainty could be nearing an end. One team was told a decision is expected from Shields "soon," according to USA Today.

 

[Bear Pride]

 

[Bear Pride]

Am I missing something here? This article from 50 minutes ago? Fox on the cutting edge of news, again?

Padres offer contract to free agent P James Shields

 

[chibears55]

@JeffPassan: Industry guesses it lands somewhere in four-year, $72-75M neighborhood, though Shields' rep, Page Odle, told others he has a bigger offer.

Wondering if cubs has the bigger offer but he torn between playing in California or taking the money with joe maddon

 

[2323]

@JeffPassan: Industry guesses it lands somewhere in four-year, $72-75M neighborhood, though Shields' rep, Page Odle, told others he has a bigger offer.

Wondering if cubs has the bigger offer but he torn between playing in California or taking the money with joe maddon

I bet, and would hope, the Cubs are front loading this to an extent that it's enticing for several reasons. A: time value of money...iow, a dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow; B) the Cubs want the money concentrated to his best years and wouldn't want him to be untradeable by what's at the back end of the deal; C) semi relatedly, the Cubs would also want to be in play for free agents next year.

The Cubs can afford to front load the contract with a bulk of the salary being concentrated in the first year or two. I'm wondering if the Padres offer is low balling or somewhat backloaded, since they've already brought in a lot of salary and don't have the same resources as the Cubs. I think, ideally, Shields wants to be in San Diego but the difference in the offers in terms of the overall money and or how that money is spread out is what's making this a hard decision. The Padres offer might be structured in such a way where he won't even see the bulk of that money (since he'd likely be retired).