Breaking News: James Shields Signs with the San Diego Padres

James Shields, the last big free agent fish on the MLB market, was signed early this morning by the San Diego Padres.

Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish had it first:

As tweets progress from the people who hear it first, it was made known that Shields was in fact getting a 4-year deal from the new-look Padres:

Also coming from Jon Heyman, the Chicago Cubs were reported in on what could have been their second big arm of the offseason– the first of course being Jon Lester:

With all these additions to the San Diego Padres: Justin Upton, Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, and now James Shields, the Pads have a whole new look and feel coming into 2015. The forced National League rivals of the Seattle Mariners have 2/3 an outfield M’s fans coveted, and a starting pitcher that will make them deeper and more potent throughout their pitching staff.

Does this flurry of offseason moves make the Padres contenders? That remains to be seen, as Kemp is a major health question mark, Myers had a rough 2014, and James Shields wasn’t any of ‘Big Game James’ in the World Series for the Royals.

Shields joins a division that includes the WS winning San Francisco Giants, the most expensive team in baseball (the LA Dodgers), the rebuilding Arizona Diamondbacks, and the struggling Colorado Rockies.

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Do they have a shot at a title?

Either way, I am ultimately glad the Mariners didn’t go out and spend $75 million on James Shields, as the team has pitching depth– albeit young– that could end up producing more and more consistently than 33-year old Shields.

Is this the last major move we will see this offseason? The number of free agents still available are resurrection projects and 4th outfielder types, so unless another blockbuster deal materializes– say Cole Hamels to the Red Sox– this may be the last big splash of the offseason.

From a quantity standpoint, the Padres have done so much this offseason, but is it enough in a deep division? And are their acquisitions going to stay healthy and produce through a whole season at spacious Petco Park? That remains to be seen, but for the time being, the Mariners-Padres rivalry looks a lot more competitive on paper than it used to.