Padres Editorial: Did The Friars Win the Wil Myers-for-James Shields Trade?

As Mike Oz of Big League Stew writes James Shields and Wil Myers will forever by linked due to the blockbuster trade of 2012-2013 off-season. But in a whirlwind 2014-2015 off-season, as everyone expected the two players now find themselves wearing a San Diego Padres uniform.

With Shields joining the team on a four year pact worth $75 million guaranteed, the Padres now have both of the headlining players of the trade between Kansas City and Tampa Bay. A highly-debated trade that also included Jake Odorizzi, Wade Davis, Mike Montgomery and Patrick Leonard can now be looked on as beneficial to both teams. As Oz points out, Myers gave Rays fans hope as the 2013 Rookie of the Year and in 2014 Shields was one of the key players that helped bring an American League pennant to Kansas City.

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The Padres are hoping that they will be the most recent team to benefit from Myers’ and Shields’ services. The Padres are hoping the Royals former number one prospect will bring the five tools that all of baseball saw on display in 2013 to Petco Park. Even though there are multiple questions marks surrounding the young outfielder, like can he bounce back from a poor 2014 and will he be able to handle the rigors that come with playing center field? It is exciting for all Padres fans to have a potential franchise-type player under team control to match up with Matt Kemp and Justin Upton in the Padres revamped offense.

For the small market hopping Shields, the Padres are hoping he can help bring his third team to a World Series as he did with both Tampa and Kansas City. The definition of a workhorse, Shields is the icing on the cake to an outstanding rookie off-season for GM A.J. Preller. Padres’ fans can expect Shields to bring leadership and stability to a staff of youngsters. It is time to get excited; all the pieces are in place for an excellent 2015.

We can count Wil Myers as someone who is excited to have Shields in the fold. Dennis Lin tweeted the following quote from Myers on playing with Shields:

"I think to add a guy like James would be great. … I think his leadership can bring a lot."

Now that the players’ tenures in Tampa and Kansas City have ended, the debate on who won the 2012 trade can end. But the discussion on how much these players will help the Padres has just begun.

Next: Implications of Getting An Everyday Shortstop

Padres Editorial: Did The Friars Win the Wil Myers-for-James Shields Trade?

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