Starting pitcher James Shields is the best free agent left on the market, and despite two successful seasons with the Kansas City Royals, his demand apparently isn't very high. Is there a chance he returns to the team he pitched for last season?
The market for Shields has been limited throughout the offseason, but oddly enough, it has also been fluctuating. At first it was believed the right-hander would be signing a five-year deal in the $110 million range, but that soon changed to four years and about $80 million. Now it appears Shields is seeking a five-year, $125 million contract, while clubs are thinking four years for $80 million.
Big market teams were initially said to be involved in the pursuit of the 33-year-old, but then mid-market clubs entered the discussion when it was believed his price had dropped. At this point, things couldn't be any more unclear regarding Shields' market.
Is a return to the Royals a possibility?
"I'm not sure there's a fit at this time," general manager Dayton Moore told The Kansas City Star in a telephone conversation on Monday. "But who knows? ... You're always open-minded. There's no reason to ever completely close the book, and move on from opportunities that would make your team better."
The Royals have a full starting rotation that consists of Yordano Ventura, Jason Vargas, Jeremy Guthrie, Danny Duffy and Edinson Volquez. They also signed starter Kris Medlen, who is coming off the second Tommy John surgery of his career, to an incentive-laden contract. Because signing Shields was something the team didn't view as a possibility, they added Volquez and Medlen to fill the vacancy he left shortly after they fell to the San Francisco Giants in the World Series.
However, the price for Shields might be heading south since the only two teams that have steadily been linked to him in recent weeks were the San Diego Padres and Miami Marlins, neither of which are among big market organizations. If Shields is really seeking that five-year, $125 million deal, his representation is certainly going to have a tough time negotiating that with those clubs. If his price ends up falling drastically, a number of teams could get involved, potentially opening the door for a reunion with Kansas City.
But Jon Heyman of CBS Sports has the St. Louis Cardinals atop his list of possible destinations, which could change the game for every mystery team in pursuit of the right-hander. He also writes Kansas City "looks like a team of last resort."
Sources told FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal that Shields prefers to pitch on the West Coast, so we'll see if that narrows it down to the big market teams in California. As of right now, there's really not much information available even though catchers and pitchers will report to spring training in just 24 days.
