The San Diego Padres made moves during the off season to enhance their roster, but the signing of James Shields may be the most significant for their impending playoff run.
Shields signed a four year/$75 million dollar contract, which was the largest deal in franchise history and on Saturday he made his Padres debut against the defending World Series Champs, the San Francisco Giants.
The last time the right-hander faced the Giants was in the World Series while with the Kansas City Royals and now he brings his playoff experience to a Padres staff looking for a solid ace.
In the game, Shields threw one inning, allowed a hit while tossing 11 pitches. He also faced ex-teammate Nori Aoki and got him to ground out to second base.
“He threw the ball well. He was efficient, he was good,” manager Bud Black told MLB.com.
David Conde
David is the Founder and Co-Owner of Legends On Deck and Co-Host of the Legends On Deck Podcast. A lifelong sports fan with a special passion for the New York Mets and New York Knicks, David has spent more than a decade covering the sports he loves. From 2010 to 2014, he served as a Senior Editor for MetsMerized Online and Mets Minors, and in June 2014 fulfilled a lifelong dream by covering the New York Mets at Citi Field as a credentialed writer. As Legends On Deck has expanded beyond baseball, David has enjoyed diving into more sports, learning along the way and sharing those stories with readers and listeners. Married for over 27 years and the proud father of two adult sons, he continues to connect with sports fans through Legends On Deck, the podcast and social media.
