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Shields Deal Sends Message

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By MARC LANCASTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 24, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - It wasn't long ago that James Shields would commiserate with his minor-league teammates about the sorry state of the Rays.

They all hoped to make it to the major leagues, but they were wary of what might await them upon arrival.

"We didn't feel that this team was going anywhere," Shields said.

Things have changed, and the multiyear deal the young pitcher signed Wednesday that could keep him in Tampa Bay through 2014 is the latest indicator.

The Rays didn't have to do this deal, which guarantees Shields at least $11.25 million during the next four seasons and could max out at $44 million with options and incentives. Shields would have been under Tampa Bay's control through 2012 anyway, and the cost to keep him wasn't likely to reach outrageous levels even if he continued to improve once he entered his arbitration years.

But the Rays saw an opportunity to make a statement after Shields had his agent contact them last fall to gauge their interest in a long-term deal, even though he had just pitched his first full season in the majors. Here was the rare player with enough faith in the organization that he was willing to surrender his first two years of free agency.

Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said he liked the message that rewarding Shields with a long-term deal so early in his career would send to Tampa Bay's young players. The Rays certainly wouldn't mind if some of the team's more established players, the rest of baseball and their fan base picked up on it, too.

"We're finally getting to the point where we're starting to see players in other organizations want to come here," said Friedman, "and more importantly, players in our own organization who want to stay here and be a part of what's going on."

Shields was sold on the organization's makeover even before last week, which saw the Rays shell out to secure Carlos Pena, Scott Kazmir, Jonny Gomes and Dan Wheeler without heading to an arbitration hearing. His agent, Page Odle, had been in contact with the Rays about a long-term contract for Shields since late October, and negotiations picked up momentum earlier this month.

But the three-year, $24.125 million deal the Rays awarded Pena drove the point home for Shields.

"Now we're really starting to see people committed to this organization," he said. "To see Carlos and Kaz and Gomes and all these guys signing these contracts and this organization throwing it out there, it's great. I think all the fans need to understand that we're really trying to win around here. We're not messing around."

Friedman repeatedly praised Shields' work ethic, citing it as a prime justification for why the Rays were willing to risk such a lengthy commitment to a young pitcher. The Rays believe Shields' mental makeup will help him stay healthy and keep him from easing up now that he knows the paychecks will be rolling in no matter how well he performs.

"The biggest thing that this always comes back to is knowing your own players and knowing which ones won't be adversely affected by getting the money this early and will stay just as hungry," Friedman said. "We feel like we know Jamie extremely well, and we feel very confident that he'll continue doing exactly what he's done and also continue to get better and improve."

Reporter Marc Lancaster can be reached at (813) 259-7227 or mlancaster@tampatrib.com.

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