With just days until pitchers and catchers are to report for spring training at some camps, James Shields is still without a contract. Could he wait into the season before he strikes a deal? It’s possible, though there are some who believe the New York Yankees could have a renewed interest in Shields if his price tag continues to drop, including MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince.
But I also think that in what could be a wide-open American League East, the Yanks would be remiss not to make every effort to shore up their greatest weakness — starting-pitching stability — before Opening Day. The most logical way to do that is to sign James Shields.
While the New York Yankees have routinely suggested they didn’t want to spend money this offseason after bringing in massive Brian McCann, Jacoby Ellsbury, Masahiro Tanaka and Carlos Beltran deals last year, an affordable James Shields may be too much to pass on.
Now, such would require the former Kansas City Royals ace to accept a contract well below what he was demanding earlier this offseason, which seems questionable at best.
Perhaps James Shields’ best case scenario would be to sign a one-year deal, though it’s likely he’ll continue to get lowball offers as he ages.
