The Angels aren’t the only team in pursuit of James Shields. The Rangers and Dodgers have also made the Rays trade offers for the right-hander, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports.
The Rays are saying they’d move any pitcher except David Price and Matt Moore, but Shields is the most likely one to be traded, Knobler tweets. The Angels have discussed a package that includes center fielder Peter Bourjos and catcher Hank Conger. However, they were rebuffed when they offered Bourjos for Shields, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Shields earns $7MM in 2012 and his contract includes club options for 2013 ($9MM with a $1.5MM buyout) and 2014 ($12MM with a $1MM buyout). Shields, the third-place finisher in last year's AL Cy Young voting, has completed at least 200 innings in every one of his five full seasons. The 30-year-old has a 4.39 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 in 131 1/3 innings so far in 2012.
Besides Zach Lee, what could the Dodgers offer?
I don’t know really. The Rays need hitters back.
But if we ever run out of pitching, we will probably not be at the top of the division again for a while.
Goodness Ken Rosenthal is now reporting the Angels also want Wade Davis (who from Jayson Stark is getting a lot of interest) from the Rays… Goodness this could be a huge deal brewing
What could the Angels possibly have as chips to acquire both Davis and Shields? Maybe a 3rd team gets involved?
I think they have enough for those two. They may have to pay a bit more for Davis in the deal because he has a good contract if he figures it out in the rotation.
To get both of them, the Angels would have to give up a ton. I would think it would include Bourjos, Conger, Morales, Richards and Walden.
I don’t understand why the Rangers would be after Shields. Sure he would be an upgrade over guys such as Perez, Feldman, and maybe Holland. But Rangers have plenty of arms that can start. They don’t just need a starter. What they need is a bona fide ace, a guy who can start Game 1 in a postseason series. This Shields is not, no matter what his last season’s numbers would have you to believe.
I have to agree with you on this one Elijah. I think they should go after Greinke or Lee instead of Shields. Heck, the Rangers always have beat up on Shields in the playoffs.
My guess is that the Rangers are in on Shields either to prevent the Angels from getting him, or at least to drive up the price they have to pay to get him.
Exactly….. You gotta plus 1 from me.
How many “bona fide” aces are out there? Greinke maybe? Josh Johnson?
Unfortunately for the Rays, it looks as though James Shields’ stock has fallen a bit. He hasn’t had a great season. Last year at this time, the Rays could’ve gotten major prospects for him. Then again, perhaps the reason he’s on the block is BECAUSE his stock has fallen. I doubt the Rays are sellers in the sense that the Marlins are. They’re very much in the postseason hunt.
Who AREN’T the Rangers after??
As a LAD fan, I can’t imagine what they’d offer that LAA apparently already has on the table unless it involves 2 top pitching prospects.
Maybe the Angels didn’t offer the rumor package? Or maybe the Rays don’t want the scent of Ervin Santana?
I think Santana’s value is a little shaky right now. Richards is probably the guy who holds more value to the Rays at this point.
I don’t see the Rays trading Shields to the anyone in the AL.
Jurickson Profar? Huh? What? Kidding, we’d never get him. But, no, seriously, I like Perez, but what about Jorge Alofar?
Hey, Dodgers, give us AJ Ellis and Allen Webster.