The New York Yankees' quiet offseason could get noisier if free agent starting pitcher James Shields' price keeps dropping. Last year Shields was the ace of the American League champion Kansas City Royals' staff, but a number of factors this offseason have depressed his market.
Here's the good. Shields was 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. 2014 marked his eighth consecutive season with more than 200 innings pitched and 31-plus starts. It was his fourth consecutive season with a sub-4.00 ERA, and second straight sub-3.22 ERA. He also showed better control than ever last year, registering his lowest BB/9 rate since 2008.
The bad news? He's already 33 years old, and although his 200-plus innings streak indicates durability, it also means he's got plenty of mileage on his right arm. Finally, his postseason numbers are in stark contrast to his steady regular season stats. He's 3-6 in nine starts, with a 5.46 ERA and 1.53 WHIP.
With all that said, MLB.com writer Anthony Castrovince speculated that Shields' price tag could dip in the Ubaldo Jimenez or Ervin Santana range, making him reasonably priced for a deep-pocketed team such as the New York Yankees.
The Yanks have been searching for additional rotation help, and they need durability after losing Hiroki Kuroda to Japan. CC Sabathia made only eight largely ineffective starts in 2014, while Masahiro Tanaka missed a chunk of the season with a torn UCL that luckily didn't require Tommy John surgery.
Behind them Michael Pineda is a potential young ace, but he too has battled myriad injuries in his young career.
Shields' age is a concern, but the Yankees are already the oldest team in the majors. Eight of their projected nine starters are 30 or older, but the rotation is decidedly younger. Signing Shields would move either Chris Capuano or Nate Eovaldi to the bullpen.
[MLB.com]
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