James Shields has been one of the most consistent starting pitchers in the MLB over the last four seasons and became a free agent after the Kansas City Royals lost in the World Series. He still hasn't signed with a team.
The San Diego Padres have perhaps been the most active teams this offseason in terms for trades and free agent signings. According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the team is on "periphery" of the Shields sweepstakes, largely because the market for the right-hander is undefined, but they're unlikely to land him. A number of teams have expressed interest in his services, but reports never reached the level of contract negotiations.
Earlier in the month it was said the Arizona Diamondbacks were "in the mix" for Shields, which indicated at the time that his price had significantly decreased from the originally believed $110 million over five years. However, that may have not been the case, as Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported this week that Shields has been seeking a five-year, $125 million contract, while clubs have been more open to a deal in the four-year, $80 million range. This appears to be why he has been able to find a new team this late in the offseason.
It was officially made known on Thursday that he probably won't return to the Royals, where he spent the last two seasons as the staff's ace. The team was planned on preparing a contract offer for him during their postseason run, which was said to be a five-year, $80 million deal, despite the fact they were not hopeful they would re-sign him and probably knew he was looking for $100 million. General manager Dayton Moore appeared on MLB Network Radio's Power Alley with Mike Ferrin and Jim Duquette on Thursday and said, "We feel right now that we're probably who we are going into spring training."
The Miami Marlins have also been linked to Shields for a little while now, which isn't good news for the veteran. If the teams who have surfaced as potential suitors for Shields have been the Arizona Diamondbacks, San Diego Padres and Miami Marlins, it's going to be tough for him to get the money he wants. Big market teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants and others have (as of late) denied interest in Shields as well as other top-tier free agents, and that's largely held true throughout the offseason.
The 33-year-old will certainly have a home in 2015, it's just unclear where because he's one of the trickier free agents to hit the market in recent years. On top of his questionable age, the right-hander has hurled over 200 innings in at least 31 starts in each of the past eight seasons. Despite formidable career numbers (114-90 with a 3.72 ERA and 1.22 WHIP), clubs are skeptical of offering a lot of money to a player who could very well begin his decline within the next few seasons.
Players are required to report to spring training by March 3, which gives Shields a little over a month to find a team.
UPDATE: D-Backs general manager Dave Stewart says the team is "out" on Shields, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.
