James Shields Signs with Padres: Latest Contract Details, Comments, Reaction

James Shields, 33, is a rarity among starting pitchers in Major League Baseball with a long track record of durability and performance. The Padres announced they have officially signed Shields to a four-year deal:

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The San Diego Padres today announced that they have signed right-handed pitcher James Shields to a four-year Major League contract through the 2018 season with a club option for 2019. In order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster the club will make a corresponding move.   Executive Vice President/General Manager A.J. Preller made the announcement. 

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CBS Sports' Jon Heyman previously confirmed SB Nation's Chris Cotillo's report Monday on the deal between the two parties.    

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported more details on the deal:

Rosenthal provided more details on how Shields' deal breaks down:

Heyman previously reported that Shields' deal is worth $75 million.    

Shields commented on his motivation in joining San Diego, via Fox Sports: MLB and the Padres on Twitter:

General manager A.J. Preller provided his thoughts on his new ace:

ESPN Stats & Info noted how the deal was a record-setter for the organization:

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported on the compensation owed after completing the deal:

Heyman noted the Padres received competition from Seattle. "Marlins offered 3 years and a vesting option for Shields," Heyman later added.

The first thing that jumps out about Shields' career is eight consecutive years with at least 30 starts and 200 innings pitched. With all of the pitching injuries that piled up over the last year, knowing there is someone who will be able to take the ball every fifth day is a huge luxury. 

Shields is even better than just a guy who will be out there when his name is called. The nine-year veteran may not live up to his "Big Game" James label, but his highest ERA in the last four years was 3.52 in 2012. 

As Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports wrote on Twitter during the season, Shields' consistent level of performance makes him highly valuable:

Sherman expanded on that thought, showing Shields' durability compared to San Diego's past pitchers:

The Royals, who reaped the rewards of a December 2012 trade with the Tampa Bay Rays for Shields and Wade Davis, turned into a playoff team for the first time in 29 years. General manager Dayton Moore told The Associated Press, via Fox Sports, that their success came from starting pitching.

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"The only way you tilt the field in your favor, especially in these markets, is to have quality starting pitching out there every single night," Moore said. 

One of the biggest problems smaller-market teams have is retaining starting pitching, and the market has exploded in recent years. The Royals took advantage of their window and made a run to the World Series. Shields did his part to get them there, even with his struggles in the postseason. 

Unlike fellow free-agent pitchers Jon Lester and Max Scherzer, Shields' wait to find a new home this offseason was abnormally long. He went into February before signing a deal, though Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted the right-hander may have been hurting his market:

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On Feb. 3, Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports reported Shields was likely to make his decision "before the end of this week," with the Yankees and Padres mentioned as teams in recent contact with his agent, Page Odle.

Shields is an older free agent—he will play next season at 33 years old, two years older than Lester and Scherzer—and has seen a drop in his strikeout rate in two years with Kansas City. His stuff isn't as powerful as Lester or Scherzer, relying more on command and a violent changeup. 

While Shields' best days may be limited, he's still capable of pitching at a respectable level for most of this new contract. At the very least, he will be a valuable innings-eater who posts solid ERAs.