Email a copy of 'Free Agent Profile: James Shields' to a friend
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By Tim Dierkes | at
Email a copy of 'Free Agent Profile: James Shields' to a friend
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bobbleheadguru
I just don’t know how these musical chairs will work with the “Big 3”.
If the Tigers, Yankees and Dodgers are out… and the Red Sox go Lester or nothing… then the only legit landing spot for all 3 is the Cubs. I suppose it is possible that the Cubs get TWO of the big 3, but that likely means one of them (likely Scherzer because of his absurd asking price), does not have a destination.
From the Tigers perspective, it would be better to make a trade to fix CF and sign Andrew Miller.
Joe McMahon 2
The Marlins are my guess for Scherzer.
Draven Moss
LOL….. No, but seriously, they don’t need him plus, they’ll have to overpay. Their best bet is to try to re-sign Fernandez. He has shown his capabilities as an ace plus, he is embraced by the fans and it appears as though he would want to stay. The Marlins are a lower budget team, better spend it on a fan favorite, who is young and hasn’t reached their peak. Scherzer will be an ace for probably the next 4 years, Fernandez could very well be that for the next 10, though we don’t know yet.
Jeff Hill
Not saying I think he will and I hope he doesn’t but there is also the chance he blows out his arm again and needs a second TJ surgery. And sadly he would never be the same again.
Draven Moss
It’s a risk, as it is with any pitcher you’re going to pay big bucks for. But, the chances of him blowing out his arm compared to Lester and Shields is no worse IMO. He has less inning than the other two so, he should have more quality innings to give. Lately, the way I see it, teams are going to need to expect these TJ Injuries as they’ve occurred so frequent the last few years. Basically, what I’m trying to say is that teams are going to have to realize that for every 5-7 year deal they sign a pitcher for, they are going to have to expect atleast one year to be a bust, probably due to TJ.
Seamaholic
Oh there’ll be loads of teams in on them. Everyone’s got money (well, almost everyone). Look for the Dbacks to be involved in at least one. Rockies too if they trade Cargo or Tulo. Phillies maybe, Mariners, Rangers, you name it.
bobbleheadguru
I don’t agree… but we shall see!
My prediction: ONE out of those three will not get the contract they are looking for.
Bob Bunker
I see the Cubs signing one, the Red Sox signing one, and the Giants signing one.
martinfv2
I’m starting to think Cubs get one, Giants might get one, Red Sox don’t sign one of the three.
Bob Bunker
It would be highly disappointing as a Red Sox fan if they don’t sign one of the three but I suppose rebuilding one more year and waiting for the FA class of next year wouldn’t be terrible.
Giants are really interesting because they have open rotation spots and question marks beyond Bumgarner. Also, after next year they have Lincicum and Hudson salary off the books so if they can use the World Series funds to pay the first year of a big SP salary they should easily be able to fit in one of the big 3 and Panda.
JacobyWanKenobi
Shields is going to be an interesting one to watch, I know for sure I don’t want my team to have any part of him. 19 a year and a draft pick is pretty steep, especially when his nickname is merely a catchy rhyme and holds little merit .
Jeff Hill
That all depends on who your team is. I would love for the Red Sox to be able to sign him for less 20 in AAV. Also Scherzer is the more exciting watch because with the Yankees supposedly out on the big 3 he doesn’t have a clear cut perfect fit like Shields and the Sox or Lester and the cubs.
Seamaholic
Scherzer = Dodgers
Jeff Hill
I don’t see it happening. They need to fix up the bullpen and also with Friedman there, I think they are going to start building through the draft.
Baseball597
I think the demand for Shields is a tad overstated IMO. Lester and Scherzer are clearly ahead of him on the list of free agent pitchers, and are there really that many teams that are currently in the market to spend 100 mil on a starting pitcher, especially one that is 33 and has a shoddy playoff record?
JacobyWanKenobi
I also don’t like them being called the “Big 3”, Scherzer and Lester are tier 1, Shields is a tier 2 pitcher, an ace of a bad staff if you will.
LazerTown
But those 2 could cost $50MM+ more.
sjwil1
haha, Rowand telling people how to stay healthy all year! funny
DippityDoo
Shields does a pretty good job with staying away from walls atleast.
disadvantage 2
Haha, Rowand giving advice on having a successful baseball career! funny
(bitter Giants fan here)
DippityDoo
I want the Cubs to sign him which means he’ll probably perform poorly next year. I have an excellent track record of always picking the wrong horse. At the time, I liked the E Jax signing.
Danny Phillips
The thing is.. E-Jax has always been terrible.
Matt He.
He’s had a couple good moments
DippityDoo
I disagree he had 2-4 WAR for the previous 5 seasons(before cubs signing), averaged 190 innings, and a FIP of 3.77, a no hitter. That’s not terrible in any sense of the word.
Karkat
Please just steer clear of Boston.
Jeff Hill
I think he would be a solid number 2 behind a Cole Hamels type pitcher.
Karkat
Shields has been terrible in important games since times immemorial. Also his Fenway numbers are awful. Santana or somebody would be better.
Jeff Hill
His Fenway numbers aren’t horrible. Yea he has had some horrendous games there but I would be that they are around his career averages. So an ERA of like 3.60ish.
Tko11
My issue is giving him anything more than 3 years at an ace salary. He is a number 2.
Jeff Hill
I have no problem with paying him ace money if we win a WS during the time he is here. But pitching is a need and to me it’s either him or Scherzer and he is cheaper and less of a commitment.
VAR
But 5 years covers his age 33,34,35,36,37 seasons. It may be shorter but it’s also very scary. With Lester or Scherzer at least you’d get some prime years before it went down hill. Hearing the words flyball pitcher are also terrifying when it comes to the second best pitcher on your staff when it comes to the bandboxes in the AL East. There has got to be a better option.
MB923
Why? He’d easily become the ace of the staff.
Karkat
The way to fix having a junky house isn’t to add slightly nicer junk xD
Kansas_City
Too high at 5 years 95 million. More likely four years 75 million and that might be pushing it. Whoever signs him will be stuck with at best a mediocre deal.
slasher016 2
I too balk at 5 years for $95M, I think a lot of people on here a degrading the value of Shields. Eight straight years of 200 IP with solid ERA/WHIP/FIP. Look what Homer Bailey got AAV. He’s going to get at least four years but five is certainly possible.
Vandals Took The Handles
“Eight straight years of 200 IP”…..
I love the guy. but those are an awful lot of innings on an arm….shoulder, etc.
Phillyfan425
Homer Bailey got the contract he did because of what the Reds “thought” he would be (based on his previous 2 seasons) – not based on the performance he had put up.
UK Tiger
You always pay people for what you think they will do for you, not what they have done for someone else.
Nazzi_Muhammad
I would prefer the Red Sox go after Lester, but if he’s looking to go 6 or 7 years, count them out. 5 years is pushing it. Shields intrigues me. I think he would be just fine in Fenway. After all, he has spent a majority of his career in the A.L. East.
At age 33 when he enters the ’15 season. I would think the Sox will not go more than 3 years. Any more is just not smart.
Bradley Maravalli
I’d do whatever it takes to bring back Lester. He performs well in Boston and is a fan favorite. 6 years is the most I would go. Option for a 7th year if necessary.
Bradley Maravalli
It had been assumed the Lester goes to the Cubs, Scherzer to the Yankees, and Shields to the Red Sox. Yankees are out on the Big Three. So now what? Scherzer back to the Tigers? Do the White Sox step it up? Hard to picture where these pitchers will go.
Nazzi_Muhammad
Don’t eva count dem yanks out! The evil empire strikes again! I read an article that said the yanks would still be very profitable, even if the annual payroll was as high as 500 million a year. That includes paying out the luxury tax. So with that said, I do not believe it when I hear they are out of the running for these over priced free agents.
Robertson99
I read the same article. Just because they can spend the money doesn’t mean they are willing to. I’m not sure exactly what Cashman’s plan is but I think they are out on the 3 top pitchers because even if they have any of them, it doesn’t solve their issue of a horrible offense. Sherzer could have a career year, win Cy Young and MVP and the team still wins 84 games. They need bats, in a bad way.
M.Kit
He’s going to be a solid addition to whatever rotation he joins. However (while it was a small sample size this postseason), if you want him to be successful in the postseason, should probably make sure he doesn’t pitch 240-250+ innings in the regular season.
dieharddodgerfan
It will be interesting what kind of offers Shields gets this offseason. Considering he will be 33 next month and didn’t perform well in the playoffs.
IMO, I think he gets a 4 yr deal with a vesting option for a 5th yr. The AAV predicted ($19 mill/yr) sounds about right.
I think the deal will probably be a year too long (probably will be good for 3 more yrs), but in this day of free agency, overpaying for past production is par for the course and if its only by 1 year, then that’s certainly not horrible.