James Shields has been dangled around all year on the trade market, as the Padres are clearly in a rebuild mode, but sending him to the White Sox in return for basically nothing may put Padres GM, A.J. Preller, on the hot seat. After many flashes of greatness from the north side of Chicago in 2015, the White Sox seem to have put it together this season, and now may have made themselves serious contenders by adding yet another top end starter to an already solid rotation. However, the other side of the trade isn’t too bright, and it’s not just because San Diego has dumped their ace; for a rebuilding franchise, what the Friars got back in return is next to nothing. But, A.J. Preller did get Kenny Williams to agree to eat about half of James Shields’ salary.
With a decent amount of room on their team payroll, the White Sox gladly agreed to take on most of James’ salary, as they only had to give up two unranked prospects from their farm system. With only one right-hander in the rotation, and lack of depth in the bullpen, James Shields’ longevity as a right-handed starter could certainly lift the White Sox back into first place of the AL Central. With the offense being hot and cold this year (currently ranked 21st in offensive production), the White Sox know they are going to have to keep their pitching in check. So, currently being ranked 6th in pitching productiveness, the James Shields’ acquisition will certainly help. However, adding the former KC ace is more to help Chicago down the stretch and in the postseason then it is now, as Shields obviously knows the AL Central well and has playoff experience. But, overall this is a lop sided trade, as the Padres basically got two replacement minor league players in return.
A.J. Preller’s first offseason as the Padres’ GM was big news to watch unfold, as he acquired Justin Upton, Craig Kimbrel, Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, Derek Norris, and James Shields amongst others to make the Padres a contending team on paper, but made a dent in San Diego’s farm system in the process. So, after they hugely underperformed in 15’, Preller has clearly put the Padres in rebuild mode in order to re-stock their farm system with a look to the future for competing. Other than Matt Kemp, James Shields was their biggest asset, so if one were to trade their biggest asset due to a rebuilding mode, a tremendous amount of young talent would need to come back, alike what the Phillies did last summer in the Cole Hamels trade with Texas. However, in this situation, the Friars got back a 16-year-old shortstop and a 26-year-old minor league pitcher who’s value has rapidly dropped since being ranked in the top 100 prospects prior to the 2014 campaign. With a lack of pitching talent in the farm system, the Padres needed to get back a set of minor league arms. The White Sox, other than Carson Fulmer, don’t have many legitimate minor league pitchers, so why trade with them other than knowing they would be willing to pay a good portion of Shields’ salary? Because Preller wasn’t smart in waiting for the deadline and/or finding a better trade partner/package, he should be on the hot seat.
