Marc Topkin ‏@TBTimes_Rays
Hearing #Rays have traded Shields AND Davis to #Royals. Working on confirmation and return

Well shit.

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal
Source: #Rays will send James Shields and Wade Davis to #Royals for Wil Myers and other prospects.

Well, ok, what about Dickey and Johann Santana to the Rangers, primarily for salary relief (Santana)?

That's it. It's over. The rangers are doomed. We lost our leadership, we lost Greinke, and now we lost Shields? It's fucking over, man! Dead last finish in the AL West, behind the Astros.

Hell no. Dickey is due for a regression and Santana is always injured. And the Mets are asking a ridiculous price for Dickey even without Santana.

Wow I really didn't care all that much about Greinke for $150 mil but this really bums me out. At this point we might as well just trade for Upton AND resign Josh and just try to fucking mash our way to the playoffs. Damnit.

Santana was very good late last year. He is ready to pitch again. Dickey is worth $10 million or so more than his salary in 2013. Let Rangers soak up both pitchers, let NY send Rangers 2 good prospects in exchange for one C to even out the $35 milllion that the Rangers would be soaking up. If Santana is real good, exercise his option for 2014. If Dickey is good, give him his extension.

This would allow the Rangers to trade Holland as a centerpiece and increase WAR by about 6.

No, this is not the end of the Rangers' world, but it does not forebode well for 2013. With Shields gone the Rangers' SP options become much more uncertain. The same can be said for the Rangers' competition for Shields, notably AZ. Rather than try to place square pegs in round holes, namely Dickey, Sanchez, Jackson, and others, the Rangers need to begin filling gaps with younger players who may give the Rangers several tests of value.

I would start with Upton. He has blemishes: down season, poor home/road splits, and am sure others not immediately in mind. There are no perfect ballplayers but Upton is one hell of a baseball player and is young enough to be part of a longer term rebuilding effort.

And kudos to TB for crushing its trade counterparty. Wil Meyers is Profar in a KC uniform. The Rays win again.

Wow... Well played, KC!

Didn't see that one coming...

Anyone for a round of Dickey?

Pretty terribly played by KC, actually.

seriously, bad trade for the royals. myers is an absolute stud, the rays gotta steal of a deal

Looks like my rebuilding scenario is looking more and more likely.