The MLB season is just a few months away and James Shields still has not signed with a team in free agency and as it gets closer, teams like the NY Yankees, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, Dodgers, Kansas City Royals, LA Angels, Marlins and Brewers could be potential destinations and this comes after big names like Jon Lester and Max Scherzer have already signed.
Shields is considered to be one of the most durable pitchers in baseball and he comes in after pitching over 200 innings again last season. Shields went 14-8 and had a 3.21 ERA and helped his team make it to the World Series. The Yankees are an option since they have money and a major need in the rotation, as they have CC Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka coming back from injuries. The team has enough to get by without Shields, but they easily could step up and sign him.
The Red Sox are deep in their rotation with Clay Buchholz, Rick Porcello and Joe Kelly, but they could add another arm, as Hardball Talk reports that they were interested in Shields earlier this season. The Padres are looking at everyone and they may look at a Cole Hamels trade, but if that doesn't work, Shields could be an option. The Marlins were linked to Shields, while the Angels and Dodgers could be in play if Shields tries to stay on the west coast where he lives, as USA Today reports he hopes to do.
According to Hardball Talk, Shields is a target for the Blue Jays and the Padres, while the Miami Marlins are also in the mix. The Yankees could use another starter, but they do not appear willing to shell out money for a free agent. If Shields dangles a bit more and his price goes down, there is a chance that the Yankees could jump in on him. The Brewers also could look at Shields after trading Yovani Gallardo to the Rangers.
Shields earned over $13 million last season and he will cost a solid amount for whatever teams that signs him, but likely much less than what Scherzer signed for. Teams like the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres have been mentioned as potential options for Shields, while the Giants, Dodgers and Angels also could get involved if things continue along this way on the market. Shields is a durable player and while his nickname may not be totally earned, he would be a strong signing for any team that needs to eat up innings for their bullpen this season.
The Yankees rotation could be great, but it also has as many question marks as anyone. CC Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka are coming back from injuries, while Ivan Nova had Tommy John surgery and they also will be without Hiroki Kuroda. The team has some young arms, but the bullpen likely will get taxed with Tanaka and Sabathia coming back from injuries and that means a player like Shields could be key. Shields will help save those innings for the bullpen, as he is a six-to-seven inning pitcher on a consistent basis and went for 227 innings pitched last season.
