Yahoo Sports broke news about two weeks ago that Big Game James Shields had a 5/$110M offer on the table from a mystery team.

 

Now, ESPN's Bowden adds this:

It was also reported that Shields had turned down a five-year, $110 million offer from a club he didn't want to play for. I haven't been able to find what team that was (I was told the Twins might have been that team, but I was never able to confirm it).

Could the Twins really have been that team? A deal would have led to a new team-record payroll and a rotation with 4 free agent veterans.

 

Other rumors mentioned the Astros as the potential mystery team which seems to make a bit more sense, but... who knows?

I sincerely doubt it was the Twins. Unless we had a way to trade Nolasco and open a little cap room... and I don't think that's going to happen. Neither is this. We have enough veteran starting pitching already, so let's see what May and Meyer can do.

My guess is Colorado.  This fits with the claim that COL is looking to trade to acquire SP since "they can't sign [any]."

It may have been the Twins prior to signing Santana.  Shields said no, so the Twins moved on.

It may have been the Twins prior to signing Santana.  Shields said no, so the Twins moved on.

 

Yeah, exactly what I was thinking.  The timeline is critical here.  Unless they had/have some kind of deal to offload Nolasco, it seems highly unlikely that they have both Santana and Shields on their shopping list.  FWIW, LEN3 reported last night that after talking with Ryan, that the Twins are basically done, except for keeping tabs on certain names currently playing winter ball.  And sure enough, they signed two winter ball minor leaguers today, and supposedly have Johan Santana and Alexi Ogando on their pitching list.

Edited January 20, 201511 yr by jokin

Stay with the hand you have, and bring up a few of our prospects rather than block their progress with a bunch of aging vets in the rotation.  James Shields in the last 2-3 years of a five year contract is unlikely to be worth it.  The only worse deal would be to give Max Scherzer 7 years, but nobody is dumb enough to do that.  Only our politicians in D.C.could waste that kind of coin. 

That's absurb! Shields is a decent pitcher, but I'd rather have Santana, especially for the savings.

Edited January 20, 201511 yr by curt1965

The agent was trying to make a market for his over priced pitcher.

 

I doubt any team gave that offer.

It may have been the Twins prior to signing Santana. Shields said no, so the Twins moved on.

Word of the Shields mystery offer leaked on 1/4 (after Ervin), presumably while the offer was still on the table although that isn't explicitly clear.

 

Original Ken Rosenthal quote:

Two execs say it is their understanding that Shields has a five-year, $110 million offer and is looking for an even higher guarantee.

Milwaukee is being talking to him.

 

that 5/$110 M is not like anything the Twins would do...  I doubt it was them.

I doubt it was the Twins - I'd wager it was someone like the Astros, who have been very active trying to get bigger name free agents this winter. 5 for $110M would be out of character for the way that Terry Ryan has been approaching free agent pitching the past two years.

Edited January 22, 201511 yr by iTwins