Cubs Were Runners-Up In James Shields Sweepstakes
(CBS) In free agency, there's pretty much zero value in finishing runner-up for a big name.
But for what it's worth, the Cubs did take second place in the sweepstakes for right-hander James Shields before he signed a four-year deal with the Padres earlier this week worth around $75 million, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Chicago reportedly offered Shields a three-year deal worth $60 million.
From the sounds of it, Cubs manager Joe Maddon was a big draw for Shields, who played for him in Tampa Bay.
"In all reality, it came down to the Cubs and the Padres -- two great managers," Shields told a local radio station. "I think I made the right decision here. I'm really happy about it. I'm really happy to be a Padre."
Shields lives about 30 miles north of San in Rancho Sante Fe.
"When it came down to it, I had to think about my family, being close to home," Shields said at his introductory press conference. "And my No. 1 reason is winning. The teams I was looking at, I knew they were going to win and win now. That's what I loved about San Diego and what ownership's doing right now. They had that win-now mentality. They want not only to win now but win the next four, five years."