The San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo
With the trade of James Shields, the San Diego Padres have almost completely torn down their effect at a World Series contender. If we turn back the clock all the way to the winter of 2014, off the heels of a World Series loss for James Shields and the Kansas City Royals. Everyone around KC knew that they most likely were not going to be able to retain Shields’ after trading for him, just like Johnny Cueto this past season. Anyway, in January of 2015 Shields signed four year seventy-five million dollar contract with San Diego. The contract was designed to give Shields the most money in the middle of the contract. This was the last deal that GM A.J. Preller tried to make to save the Padres from the massive winter they had the year before. Signing Shields was also one of the last contracts being signed being that is was in January. All in all it was a good deal for both sides. Shields finally got the deal that he had worked his whole career for, and the Padres don’t over pay for a middle of the rotation starter. San Diego also didn’t give that many years to Shields (who was 33 when he signed the deal).
Going into 2015 the San Diego Padres were the favorites to win the World Series, especially when they traded for Craig Kimbrel on Opening Day. After underperforming drastically, Shields was one of the pieces to fix the problems with the Fryers. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for the Padres—Shields in his San Diego career went 15-14 with a 4.10 ERA in 269.2 innings.
For Chicago they get a guy that desperately needs an opportunity to get back to form. The White Sox’ who are as a team are second in the American League with a 3.61 ERA. Shields is coming back to the American League where he has spent the majority of this career. Not to mention the Sox’ did not give that much up for Shields. Erik Johnson and Fernando Tatis Jr are headed to San Diego. Johnson is in his four Major League season and is not doing so well. In two starts Johnson is 0-2 with a 6.94 ERA in only 11.2 innings. Tatis has never logged an at-bat in the majors or minors just being signed two days before he was traded to San Diego. Tatis is seventeen so his career is ahead of him and we will see what the third baseman can become.
This is not one of A.J. Prellers’ best moves but it seems like one that has to be done. Shields showed that he was not the same pitcher in a tough National League. We will see what Shields has in store for us on Tuesday against the Washington Nationals. Will it be Big Game James or the San Diego Shields that is learning how to pitch with less velocity.
Sources:( baseballreference.com, mlb.com, mlbtraderumors.com, spotrac.com)

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