The Blue Board

As a Rays fan I enjoy what we got
We needed a bat and he could be a great compliment to Longo

Royals u get a great pitcher in Shields and a good pitcher in Davis
But Shields is a FA in 2014 and we weren't re signing him over Price

That could end up happening with Myers. He has great potential, and I think he is under team control through 2018 at a cheap price so the Rays must love that end of the deal.

The Royals have some good pieces and needed some starting pitcher help. This might be one of those moves to get them out of rebuilding for the future mode.

This is an absolutely incredible deal for Tampa. But that doesn't mean it's not a good deal for KC.

Shields is getting paid $9 mil this year (2013) and has a club option for $12 mil next year. Then he is an FA. Tampa is a team running on a $65 million or so payroll. That's a) too expensive for them and b) they definitely would not re-sign him (look at Upton, Crawford). Longoria is the franchise player.

Wade Davis was a former top prospect who hasn't really cut it as a starter, but was really, really good out of the pen last year (hitters hit below .190 against him). But again, he will cost $2.8 mil in 2013 and then 4.8 mil. in 2014. If he doesn't turn into a starter, Tampa would prefer not to pay a reliever, even that good of one, $4.8 mil. So there is some calculated risk in trading Davis.

The return is huge and the thing with getting youth is that under baseball rules, you get them under team control for six years before they hit FA, unless they negotiate for deals that extend years for less money (Tampa did this with Longoria and also Price, I think).

Wil Myers might be the best hitting prospect in baseball. Odorizzi has now been traded twice, which is interesting, maybe concerning. Montgomery is an ex-top prospect (might've been the best pitcher in their system two years ago), but he's a lefty, still only 23 and has a wicked changeup. Leonard was picked in 2011; he did hit well last year.

If anyone can harness arms it's Tampa. Their park helps. Baseball America had Wil Myers listed 1st in their Royals Top Prospects and Odorizzi 5th. Myers is a top-10 prospect in baseball--maybe top-5.

With all of that said (sorry for length), it's not necessarily a bad trade for KC if they think their team can win now. They pretty much made it clear this offseason that Myers was available for an ace. And they got their ace. They're spending a lot of $ right now and don't really seem to have a hard budget, so paying Shields next two years isn't a concern. See if change if scenery helps Davis. They set out what they accomplished to do, I guess. Myers and lesser prospect for Shields was probably on or near the table at the trade deadline this past season.

So for the Royals, it depends significantly on Moustakas, Hosmer, and Cain in my opinion. The kids have a lot of potential and Moustakas and Hosmer were really highly rated. Hosmer was great his rookie 2011, but not last year. Butler is a hoss and a modern day Edgar Martinez...Gordon is solid, too. The rest of them have to step up.

See I thought Myers would be taking Francouer's spot early in 13. But, if they feel the pieces are there to win now I understand the trade because pitching has been awful last few years. I just can't trust the front office of the Royals with how bad the team has been, so Im hesitant to feel confident about any moves they make. Especially when dealing with the Rays who seem to do everything right, so I have a feeling this isn't going to end well for KC.

Hoping for the best though, ROYALS 2013 WORLD SERIES CHAMPS!!

Another one to make me feel better.

I agree with the Mud Lizard.

Shields represents capital that the Rays don't have ATM. We were never going to be able to re sign him.

Price/Helly/Moore/Niemann/Cobb-Archer

Myers is a badass, and Odorizzi is one of the best prospects in their organization.

Unfortunately, Friedman won't call Myers up till 2016