James Shields signed a four-year, $75 million deal that includes a team option for a fifth season with the San Diego Padres on Monday. However, the choice he made was no easy one.
Shields appeared on Mighty 1090 AM in San Diego this morning and spoke about his decision to sign with the Padres. The veteran right-hander is from San Diego and actually made it known earlier in the offseason he preferred to pitch on the West Coast since this would likely be the final long-term contract he would sign in his career. But there remained another enticing option for Shields.
The Chicago Cubs jumped in at the last minute and reportedly offered him a three-year deal in the $60 million range. Cubs' manager Joe Maddon, who spent a number of seasons with Shields in Tampa Bay, told MLB Network Radio that he and team president Theo Epstein were considering Shields for a while and were hoping to work things out to get him on board.
"From day one, I've been talking about James," said Maddon on the show, via Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune. "Wouldn't that be a nice prize or present? Shieldsy - a tremendous competitor. You've heard me talk about him in the past. Even when Jon Lester came on board, we were talking (about him) even before that."
According to Shields, he was close to signing with Chicago.
"In all reality, it came down to the Cubs and the Padres -- two great managers," he said in the interview, via Dennis Lin of U-T San Diego. "When it came down to it, I had to think about my family, being close to home. And my No. 1 reason is winning. The teams I was looking at, I knew they were going to win and win now."
Shields spent seven seasons under Maddon in Tampa Bay and the two helped the Rays to their first playoff and World Series appearance in 2008. They clinched four playoff berths, two AL East division titles and one pennant. The idea of joining Maddon and starter Jon Lester in Chicago likely presented Shields with a difficult decision, but the Padres were offering more years, more money and they are conveniently located near his hometown of Rancho Sante Fe.
While San Diego is an interesting destination for the right-hander, Chicago would have perhaps been even more captivating.