If the Rays trade James Shields, they'd be looking to exceed the package of prospects the Brewers obtained for Zack Greinke, according to Jon Heyman. Greinke, who was traded for prospects Jean Segura, Ariel Pena and John Hellweg, is headed for free agency, but Shields is under team control through 2014 with a pair of club options. The Cardinals, Braves, Dodgers, Indians and Rangers are among the teams with interest in Shields. Here are the latest rumors surrounding the 30-year-old. The most recent items are up top:
- Teams have started to wonder how serious the Rays are about trading Shields, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports.
- The Rangers don't believe Shields will be traded, so they could focus on relief help instead of attempting to add to their rotation, MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reports.
- The Rangers were far more interested in Shields than Josh Johnson even before Johnson walked six Padres today, Scott Miller of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter).
- Manager Joe Maddon says he doesn't expect the Rays to make any deals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. "We talk a lot and it always takes two to dance, and at the end of the day it's difficult to match up all the time," Maddon said. "So I would bet that nothing really happens.''
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney reported today that some executives believe the Rays will trade Shields before the trade deadline.
From that first bullet, sounds like the Rays strategy, getting the Rangers and Angels to take the “leftovers”(James Shields), could work
Rays Fans,
Would you trade Shields to the Cardinals for Matt Adams (power firstbaseman who is destroying triple A), Tyrell Jenkins (High Ceiling Prospect who could become a number 2 starter but is in A Ball), and Zack Cox (former number 1 pick third baseman who might be able to be converted to 2b)?
As fans we always overvalue our prospects, so curious to see it from the Rays perspective.
hahahaha…oh, you’re serious? Why would the Cardinals give up 3 of their top 5 prospects for a guy with an 83 ERA+ and a 1.45 WHIP? Shields is being way overvalued. Also, Cox will NEVER play 2B. NEVER.
none of those prospects are in their top 5. I tend to believe’s James high Whip is in large part due to his unlucky BABIP than anything else, his walk rate, k rate and homerun rate aren’t that different.
I would do that deal in a heart beat! Even if it was just Adams and Jenkins I would do it.
I think your close, but I expect Andrew Friedman to hold out for a package similar to what he received from the Cubs for Matt Garza. The Rays received the Cubs top SP prospect in Archer, their 2nd best position prospect in Lee, their minor league player of the year in Guyer, an interesting C+ type in Chirinos, and a very good MLB 4th OF in Fuld. According to BA, it was the Cubs’ first, fourth and tenth ranked prospects. Archer and Lee were also top 100 prospects, 27 and 92.
For the Cardinals, I would think something like Miller, Adams, Cox and Ryan Jackson. Miller is a top 25 SP like Archer. Adams is a top 100 position player like Lee. Cox is a toolsy, B- type like Guyer and Jackson is a glove first C+ type like Chirinos. These players are probably ranked around the 2nd, 7th, 10th and 15th best in the Cardinals system.
I realize that many Cardinal fans may think this is too much and you may be right. However, the Rays are in the playoff chase and don’t have to trade Shields. His contract is relatively inexpensive and I think Friedman will happily keep Shields in the Rays rotation if he doesn’t get his asking price.
if that’s the case then you can keep him. Miller can be traded for the right pitcher, but that pitchers name is Felix. Shields is an interesting pick up but he’s far from a sure thing and definitely not worth giving up their top prospect.
I think you could exchange Carlos Martinez out for Miller, but I’m guessing it would have to include one of those two unless you were open to trading Taveras or Wong.