Royals on the verge of acquiring James Shields and Wade Davis from the Rays

**cybsball20** · 12-10-2012, 11:50 AM

Some pitchers get into the mentality that they HAVE to go for a double play with men on base, especially starters hoping to go deep into the game. You really can't translate stats from a guy who is starting moving to the bullpen because it's a totally different game back there and you may only need to go one inning, it's all about how the stuff translates. Look at Wade Davis, he hasn't been a great starter but had a pretty good year out of the pen.

**Doc** · 12-10-2012, 11:55 AM

The silver lining in this deal is that it simplifies things for a halfwit GM. They have to win in 2013 or 2014. If the Royals aren't winning by the trade deadline next year, they need put Butler, Shields, and Gordon on the block or lose them in FA. The players they get in those trades can supplement the next wave of young talent from a still solid minor league system allowing the Royals to have a chance at a run in 2016 or 2017.

**shagcarpetjesus** · 12-10-2012, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by Doc

The silver lining in this deal is that it simplifies things for a halfwit GM. They have to win in 2013 or 2014. If the Royals aren't winning by the trade deadline next year, they need put Butler, Shields, and Gordon on the block or lose them in FA. The players they get in those trades can supplement the next wave of young talent from a still solid minor league system allowing the Royals to have a chance at a run in 2016 or 2017.

If Dayton's gamble doesn't work out, I hope to God he's canned before they start worrying about the next rebuild. There's no way I want him trading off the Royals core to restock the system.

**GMackey32** · 12-10-2012, 12:10 PM

After sleeping on it, I'm really starting to like this trade. It's nice being able to say "we have the best farm system in baseball", but that doesn't win you games. Butler and Gordon are coming into their prime years and they would be wasted if we didn't have any starting pitching. It's about time the Royals thought about winning games instead of winning trades.

Myers could pan out, but that's the risk you take with prospects. He could also be the next Matt LaPorta, you never know.

I do find it interesting that the pitcher that is most like Zack Greinke is... James Shields.

**MissouriCyclone** · 12-10-2012, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by GMackey32

After sleeping on it, I'm really starting to like this trade. It's nice being able to say "we have the best farm system in baseball", but that doesn't win you games. Butler and Gordon are coming into their prime years and they would be wasted if we didn't have any starting pitching. It's about time the Royals thought about winning games instead of winning trades.

Myers could pan out, but that's the risk you take with prospects. He could also be the next Matt LaPorta, you never know.

I do find it interesting that the pitcher that is most like Zack Greinke is... James Shields.

I've been saying this the whole time. Everybody needs to chillax! Go Royals!

**MartyFine** · 12-10-2012, 12:33 PM

What an awful, awful trade. This trade confirms that the KC front office has no idea what it is doing.

Shields is not a #1 starter, which is the only kind of starter KC should have traded for. But to include Odorizzi, who was the key component in the Grienke deal, is just unforgivable.

**CloneIce** · 12-10-2012, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by MartyFine

What an awful, awful trade. This trade confirms that the KC front office has no idea what it is doing.

Shields is not a #1 starter, which is the only kind of starter KC should have traded for. But to include Odorizzi, who was the key component in the Grienke deal, is just unforgivable.

Would you consider Greinke a #1 starter? Major league baseball apparently does based on the $150M contract he got this weekend. Well, Shields has been superior to Greinke for the past two years - and he put up his numbers in the AL East (i.e. the toughest division in baseball) while Greinke threw most of his innings in the much weaker NL Central.

**cybsball20** · 12-10-2012, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by CloneIce

Would you consider Greinke a #1 starter? Major league baseball apparently does based on the $150M contract he got this weekend. Well, Shields has been superior to Greinke for the past two years - and he put up his numbers in the AL East (i.e. the toughest division in baseball) while Greinke threw most of his innings in the much weaker NL Central.

This

**MartyFine** · 12-10-2012, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by CloneIce

Would you consider Greinke a #1 starter? Major league baseball apparently does based on the $150M contract he got this weekend. Well, Shields has been superior to Greinke for the past two years - and he put up his numbers in the AL East (i.e. the toughest division in baseball) while Greinke threw most of his innings in the much weaker NL Central.

He is 31 years old. Did you see his road ERA last year?

**MissouriCyclone** · 12-10-2012, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by MartyFine

He is 31 years old. Did you see his road ERA last year?

The guy also eats up a lot of innings. He pitched 230 innings this past year. Think that was 2nd behind Verlander.

**GMackey32** · 12-10-2012, 12:47 PM

Pitcher A over the last 2 years- 477 IP, 448 K's, 14 CG's, 6 SHO, 3.15 ERA

Pitcher B over the last 2 years- 383.3 IP, 401 K's, 0 CG's, 0 SHO, 3.64 ERA

Would you consider Zack Greinke a #1 starter? Which one of these is his 2 year line? (without looking it up)

**MissouriCyclone** · 12-10-2012, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by GMackey32

Pitcher A over the last 2 years- 477 IP, 448 K's, 14 CG's, 6 SHO, 3.15 ERA

Pitcher B over the last 2 years- 383.3 IP, 401 K's, 0 CG's, 0 SHO, 3.64 ERA

Would you consider Zack Greinke a #1 starter? Which one of these is his 2 year line? (without looking it up)

I wouldn't have guessed that without looking up James Shields' stats, but this just tells you how big of a move this is. Guy eats innings which is great for a dominant bullpen that can't pitch 4 innings a game.

**GMackey32** · 12-10-2012, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by MissouriCyclone

I wouldn't have guessed that without looking up James Shields' stats, but this just tells you how big of a move this is. Guy eats innings which is great for a dominant bullpen that can't pitch 4 innings a game.

And that's playing in the AL East compared to the NL Central plus 2+ months of the AL West

**Wesley** · 12-10-2012, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by GMackey32

A million times this. The Rays have the best front office in baseball and one of the best in all of professional sports.

Looks like the Rays made out like bandits.

**MartyFine** · 12-10-2012, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by MissouriCyclone

The guy also eats up a lot of innings. He pitched 230 innings this past year. Think that was 2nd behind Verlander.

KC also had the third worst offense in the AL last year, and we are virtually assured a lack of runs with Frenchy in RF every day.

Shields will have to win the Cy Young for this trade to work out.