Shields stood in front of his locker, the one next to ex-Cub Andrew Cashner. Matt Kemp walked throug

It’s the what-if scenario for a win-now team, an offer Theo Epstein’s accounting clerk requires travel to london front office almost couldn’t refuse but ultimately couldn’t afford. You know the Las Vegas odds to win the World Series would have shifted again if the Cubs signed Shields.
Shields stood in front of his locker, the one next to ex-Cub Andrew Cashner. Matt Kemp walked through the Peoria Sports Complex clubhouse with a big smile on his face, part of an overhaul that included Justin Upton, Wil Myers, Will Middlebrooks and Derek Norris.
Back at the GM meetings in November, the Cubs projected Shields accounting clerk requires travel to london would become a $100 million pitcher and had their sights set on Lester. No one predicted “Big Game James” would still be out there past Super Bowl Sunday.
“Yeah, we had a bunch of conversations, for sure,” Shields said. “Most of the conversations were more or less how his new restaurant’s going (in Tampa). Joe’s a good guy, man, and he definitely has my back at all times, no matter what.”
accounting clerk requires travel to london Shields broke into the big leagues with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2006, a 101-loss campaign and Maddon’s first year managing the team. In 2007, Shields put up the first of eight consecutive seasons with 200-plus innings. By 2008, the Rays had done the worst-to-first turnaround, winning accounting clerk requires travel to london the American League pennant.
“The one thing I loved about Joe was the fact that he let the players be themselves. There are so many cultures that come into this game. The fact that he let the players (do) what they do out on the field (is) a big thing.”
“I don’t know what he’s going to bring over to Wrigley,” Shields said with a smile. “But whatever he does, he’s going to be successful. He’s a very, very smart individual and he knows the game of baseball really well.
Shields also helped change accounting clerk requires travel to london the culture during his two seasons with the Kansas City Royals, pushing them back to the playoffs accounting clerk requires travel to london for the first time in 29 years and into the World Series. The Cubs paid for those intangibles when they gave Lester a six-year, $155 million contract.
“(It’s) the experience of the grind of the season, and Jon will tell you the same thing,” accounting clerk requires travel to london Shields said. “You obviously have playoff experience and that’s a different atmosphere. But you can’t really talk about that until you get there.
“How you get to the playoffs is the main factor. A lot of guys put so much stress on certain games. Or if you lose a series, then guys are down and out. But the one thing I’ve learned about this game (is) no matter how far behind in the standings you are, there’s always a chance to come back and win.”
Shields pointed to the 2011 Rays, how they had been 10.5 games out of first place in early September and came back to beat the Boston Red Sox and earn a wild card. Epstein left Fenway Park after that epic collapse. Lester would go through a miserable 2012 season (9-14, 4.82 ERA) before winning another World Series ring in 2013.
The Cubs don’t know exactly where their 2016 payroll is going without the $20 million in Masahiro Tanaka savings. Epstein hasn’t accounting clerk requires travel to london kept that much “powder dry” and Shields is 33 years old with more than 1,900 innings on his right arm.
Going all-in for Shields would have meant banking on sellout crowds at Wrigley Field, hoping the Jumbotron/Your-Ad-Here accounting clerk requires travel to london revenues keep growing and betting the TV megadeal comes sooner rather than later.
The Cubs made Shields a backloaded offer that started at $60 million over four years. That morphed into a three-year, $60 million concept that included a significant amount of deferred accounting clerk requires travel to london money and a vesting option that would still cap the overall value at less than $80 million.
The Padres gave Shields four years and $75 million guaranteed, plus a club option accounting clerk requires travel to london for 2019 that could reportedly max out the deal at $91 million. Shields accounting clerk requires travel to london also has a home in Southern California about 30 minutes accounting clerk requires travel to london away from Petco Park, a pitcher’s paradise.
“It all worked out for the best,” Shields said. “They definitely have a good team over there, (but) I’m real happy with where I’m at right now. I think we have a really good team here in San Diego. And I’m happy with my decision.”
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