I think money talks and if we outbid other teams we CAN get them to sign here. Shields got 10 million in year 1, then 21 million each of the next 3 years. If we are getting him we are going to be paying him $21 million every year we have him. Do you not think if we had offered him 4 years @ 21 million per ($84 million as opposed to the Padres 4 years, 75 million) that he would have considered it?
I think he would have considered signing with us if we gave him an extra $9 million. Instead though, we'll let the Padres get him for the cheap season, AND we'll give up prospect porn.