With James Shields still on the market and it being clear his price tag isn't at $100 million, the Miami Marlins could be a potential suitor. As for other starters, could Lance Lynn of the St. Louis Cardinals land the biggest payday among first-year arbitration-eligible pitchers in history?
On Monday night, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported the Arizona Diamondbacks were in the mix for Shields, indicating the right-hander's market is not at the $100 million mark. If that's the case, then a number of other mid-market clubs, and perhaps a couple small market ones, could enter the race to sign Shields. Could one of those teams be the Miami Marlins?
Taking a look at Miami, they have a talented starting rotation, but are still in need of an ace or experienced veteran because, for one, Jose Fernandez isn't expected to be back until the middle of the season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. They also acquired both Mat Latos and Dan Haren this offseason, but Latos is just 27 years old and Haren likely still wants to be traded to a team on the West Coast so he can be closer to his family (although he said yesterday he would report to spring training with the Marlins). Both starters will likely enter free agency after 2015 as well.
Shields would be a good fit at the top of that rotation since he'd be a capable No. 1 starter among other young arms on an up-and-coming ball club. The 33-year-old has thrown over 200 innings in each of the last eight seasons and he's proven to get better with age. In the last two seasons with Kansas City, he has amassed a 27-17 record with a 3.18 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 68 starts, and logged his best year with the Tampa Bay Rays back in 2011 when he went 16-12 with a 2.82 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 33 starts (249 1/3 innings). And here's a coincidence: Marlins' general manager Dan Jennings drafted Shields when he was GM of the Rays.
Miami is also looking for a fourth outfielder, so perhaps they can sign Shields and trade one of their many starters for outfield depth. The team has been linked to Shields in some capacity this offseason, which has led to such speculation.
In St. Louis, the Cardinals have a number of contracts to settle with players who are eligible for arbitration, with the most glaring being starting pitcher Lance Lynn. The 27-year-old could become the highest-paid first-year arbitration-eligible pitcher in history, according to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com. Former big leaguer Dontrelle Willis holds the record after earning $4.35 million in his first year back in 2006.
In his first four MLB seasons, Lynn is 49-28 with a 3.46 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 119 games (97 starts). Compared to Willis, who was 58-39 with a 3.44 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 127 games (all starts), Lynn could very well exceed that number, especially after going 15-10 with a 2.74 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 33 starts this past season.
However, St. Louis will likely look to sign Lynn to an extension so they don't have to worry about contract settlements in the future. But if not, look for Lynn to become the highest-paid first-year arbitration-eligible pitcher in history.
