Yankees Rumors: Yankees Interested In James Shields?

The Yankees rotation right now is Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda, Nathan Eovaldi and at this point, Chris Capuano probably until Ivan Nova rehabs from Tommy John surgery. Could the Yankees add another big name to it? How bout James Shields. Here’s Nick Cafardo from his Sunday notes column:

"3. James Shields, RHP, free agent — The final Shields numbers are expected to be close to the five years and $110 million remaining (if the option is picked up) on the Cole Hamels deal, according to one major league source who was privy to Shields’s demands. The Giants and Red Sox are in the picture, and the Yankees may be another suitor."

I can’t see the Yankees handing out another huge contract to a pitcher right now after the Eovaldi deal. In fact, I think the Yankees are done shopping in general unless it’s a smaller kind of deal like the one that netted them Gonzlaez Germen from the Mets.

Shields in his career at Yankee Stadium is 3-6 with a 3.78 ERA, though he hasn’t lost since 2012, he’s only made one start at the Stadium each of the past two seasons. Shields is more of a groudball pitcher, which is good for the Stadium, especially for a right-handed pitcher.

For the money it would take, I can’t see Shields coming. The Yankees are a repeat offender of the luxury tax. If Shields were to get that from the Yankees, he would end up costing $33 million this year because of the luxury tax.

That’s not worth it.