Shields Signs, 7 Years, possibly 44 million

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 23, 2008 7:13 AM EST Comment 25 comments

As expected, the Rays announced at a Wednesday afternoon news conference they had signed their prized right-hander to a long-term deal that could last as long as seven years and -- with incentives -- could be worth as much as $44 million.

Individual salary info to come, but this puts Shields in Tampa through his age 32 season, suggesting he'll need at least one more contract to be a Ray lifer - potentially the first for a player with more than five years of experience, depending on Carl Crawford and Rocco Baldelli's situations.

Also, off-topic, but Toby Hall just made some really interesting comments on the J.P. Peterson show regarding the hostility between himself and the team and implied that a local newspaper writer essentially caused it all by relaying a joke from the organization to Toby.

Update: Matt Bishoff 4:16 PM

The Tampa Tribune gives us this info:

Shields asked his agent last fall to contact the Rays and feel them out about a potential multiyear deal, something that Andrew Friedman admitted was not on his offseason to-do list. But both parties got together and made it work, with negotiations getting serious once the calendar rolled to 2008.

The St. Pete Times gives us the specs of the deal:

Shields is guaranteed $11.25-million - four years of salary starting at $1-million this season for a total of $9.25-million, plus a $2-million buyout - and the Rays hold options for 2012, 2013 and 2014. Shields will make $7-million if the Rays pick up his 2012 option, $9-million in 2013 and $12-million in 2014. There are also various incentive clauses based on innings pitched and starts, as well as where Shields finishes in the Cy Young voting that could add up to nearly $6-million more.

2008: 1.00M
2009: 1.50M
2010: 2.50M
2011: 4.25M
2012: 7.00M/2.00M buyout
2013: 9.00M
2014: 12.00M

0 recs | Comment 25 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Re: Shields to sign 7 year 38 million dollar exten

Hey RJ, congrats. Rob Neyer mentioned you in his blog

by websterjtc on Jan 23, 2008 7:28 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Shields to sign 7 year 38 million dollar exten

Thanks, I noticed that last night and I was a bit shocked.

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 23, 2008 2:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Shields to sign 7 year 38 million dollar exten

And at major league baseball trade rumors Dierkes presents a list of Gammons's favorite blogs. He has Beyond the Box Score on the list. Now we have to introduce him to DRays Bay. He has quite a few other team blogs, so no reason this one should not be included. Maybe he is waiting for our first world championship.

by bobr on Jan 23, 2008 9:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Shields to sign 7 year 38 million dollar exten

It seemed like he picked the team blogs at random - he mentioned the teams read the blogs before listing, and well, I think it's pretty evident that the team reads this site.

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 23, 2008 2:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

2008 :-)

This has been one of my favorite moves since SternB has been in office and IMO the best offseason since I became a fan. I look forward to seeing the 2008 squad crushing the franchise wins record.

by tropbeachbum on Jan 23, 2008 2:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Shields Signs, 7 Years, possibly 44 million

BREAKING NEWS!!!

James Shields is going to be a member of the Rays for the next five years! woohoo!

Without the contract he was only going to be with the Rays for the next...wait...hold on...2+1+1+1...oh yeah...FIVE YEARS!

WOW! What a great move!

Dont get me wrong. I am glad the team will get Shields at below market value, but this contract has zero effect on the roster for the next five years. And zero effect on the payroll the next two years.

Am i supposed to get excited that Shields will be in the rotation in 2013 and 2014? We have no idea what the team's needs and wants are going to be then. Or if Shields is going to be healthy. Or if he will still be any good. In the mean time...THAT IS SIX YEARS FROM NOW.

Can we all just calm down about this signing...please?

The Revolution will begin soon...

by Devil Ray Guevara on Jan 23, 2008 3:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Shields Signs, 7 Years, possibly 44 million

Maybe James Shields won't be in the rotation in 4 years, but even if he isn't one of our top 5 pitchers, then he'll have a very favorable and tradeable contract, if he's not very good, then we can decline the options. The only way this is a bad deal is if he gets complacent with having the guaranteed money and doesn't work hard(which I doubt), or he gets injured. Either way, with only $12 million guaranteed, the potential reward far outweighs the risk. The most important part of this signing is the ownership showing a commitment to keeping the core around.

by raysrule07 on Jan 23, 2008 3:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Shields Signs, 7 Years, possibly 44 million

how is this "a commitment to keeping the core around"???

STOP DRINKING THE @#%$@%% KOOL-AID!

Yes. It is a good contract. even a great contract. But he was going to be here for the next FIVE YEARS anyway. That is not "keeping the core around". If you want to show me "a commitment to keeping the core around" then go get Kid K signed. If he is not signed in the next 10 months, the Rays WILL start looking to trade him. How is that for "a commitment to keeping the core around"

or what about Crawford? He is only locked in for the next three years.

The Revolution will begin soon...

by Devil Ray Guevara on Jan 23, 2008 4:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Shields Signs, 7 Years, possibly 44 million

While Kaz is great statistically, he needs to change his habits and attitude before I'd offer him a long-term deal.

by Jacob Larsen on Jan 24, 2008 12:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Shields Signs, 7 Years, possibly 44 million

It's 4 guaranteed years, and 3 option years..

http://mlbfleecefactor.com/2008/01/23/rays-looking-to-sign-james-shields-to-long-term-deal/

by ET90210 on Jan 23, 2008 5:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Buying out 2 years of free agency,

as team options (so there is no risk to the team), while the pitcher should still be in his prime, qualifies as a commitment to keeping the core around.

Plus, he is arbitration eligible starting next year, and he would have received at least $9 million in his first two years.

by G_ on Jan 23, 2008 5:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Buying out 2 years of free agency,

fine. we keep in 2013 and 2014. he is already here for the next 5 years. he wasnt going anywhere anytime soon.

and he is two years from arbitration. not one.

The Revolution will begin soon...

by Devil Ray Guevara on Jan 23, 2008 6:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Buying out 2 years of free agency,

Signing him through his arbitration years means there is no question of not offering arbitration. That is a commitment.

No question, a lot of the hullabaloo is public relations, but every signing is that. It simply lets everyone know that the team is proactive and telling everyone that we want to keep players here and will negotiate with them to manage that. As in every other case, they can still release them or trade them or not pick up the options, but it still represents an active intention to keep them.

by bobr on Jan 23, 2008 6:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No, he's a "super two" candidate

His service time puts him within the range of a "super two" arbitration eligible.

by G_ on Jan 23, 2008 6:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: No, he's a "super two" candidate

all projections i have seen have him outside of the super-2 range.

and who in there right mind would not offer Shields arbitration? there are arguments here, but the chance of Rays not offering arbitration is not one of them.

The Revolution will begin soon...

by Devil Ray Guevara on Jan 23, 2008 7:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The risk starts around 2.120 days

Shields would be at 2.125.

And the point is not that the Rays would decline to offer arbitration, but that he would have made the base salary guaranteed by the contract in his first two years of arbitration (which is the case regardless of when arbitration starts). For that amount, the Rays guaranteed team control over Shields through his entire peak with no further commitment. It is a very smart deal.

by G_ on Jan 23, 2008 8:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The risk starts around 2.120 days

Not only that, according to the Tribune quote above, it was Shields who initiated contact with the Rays about a deal. The Rays worked with him and made it happen. In this circumstance, what more do you want? Anything more in terms of length or guaranteed money would be irresponsible of the Rays.

by RATW on Jan 23, 2008 8:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: The risk starts around 2.120 days

and super-2s are usually between 2.130 and 2.140

for those that are not familiar with what we are talking about. a player is arbitration eligible after 3 years in the majors. but in the last collective bargaining agreement the union got it worked in that some players with just under 3 years. the cutoff is actually the top 17% of players with more than 2 years and less than 3.

the decimals above refer to service days in the majors. as in 2 years and 130 days. 172 days is a full service year. the top 17% is usually between 130 and 140 days.the lowest it has ever been is 128 days. THAT is why the Rays brought up Shields when they did. so he would not be super-2 eligible.

they will probably do the same thing Longoria. if he is not on the roster on opening day, we will not see Longoria until at least June 1. If he is called up on June 1 he will only get about 122 service days this year (give or take a couple).

The Revolution will begin soon...

by Devil Ray Guevara on Jan 23, 2008 8:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Shields Signs, 7 Years, possibly 44 million

This is very low-risk, high opportunity contract that is the only option for the Rays' to keep their core talent. That, or do you want to be like the Marlins?

My Blog. Check it out if you wish.

by Cory Alexander on Jan 23, 2008 5:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs