James Shields via Keith Allison/Flickr
It’s a little more than 12 hours after the blockbuster deal went down between the KC Royals and the Tampa Bay Rays, with the Royals giving up some big name prospects and receiving James Shields, Wade Davis, and a player to be named later or cash.
The reaction on Twitter has been mostly negative, even at first by Shields’ teammates (ie David Price). Some believe the deal is good for both sides.
Apparently, Jeremy Guthrie and ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale were discussing the Royals getting Shields last night and then they woke up with it really happening.
Shields talked about his time with the Rays and looked back at his favorite times:
“I think I felt like something was going to happen this offseason,” Shields said. “I was kind of hoping it wouldn’t. I really like the organization and the Tampa Bay area. But Andrew felt like it was my time to go, and here I am. I’m going to start a new chapter in my life and move on and try to help the Kansas City Royals.”
“For me, going to the playoffs the last five years, going to the World Series and, for me, this last year also was special,” Shields said. “I felt like I was a part of the best pitching staff in baseball. If not for a long time. You can probably put our pitching staff up there with the best of them in Major League history. I’m very proud of that, to have played with those guys and to have been a part of that situation.
“I’m going to miss everybody. I’m going to miss the organization. Miss the city. I’m going to miss the fans as well. It’s a sad day. Definitely a sad day, but then again I’m moving on and I’m looking to go to new places.”
I’m looking forward to see what Shields can do wearing a Royals uniform. But for this deal to be a success, his 24 teammates will need to step up their game. I cannot remember where I saw it, but someone said that Shields could be great and the Royals could still stink, just like in 2009 when former ace Zack Greinke won the American League CY Young.
Let’s hope that isn’t the reality for 2013.
