Yankees Editorial: Are The Yankees Passing On James Shields Because Of Next Year’s Free Agents?

By Jason Evans | Jan 28, 2015

The Yankees could use another arm. You’re thinking it. I’m thinking it. Everyone around baseball is thinking. James Shields is out there still and the Yankees could use them. However, Shields probably wants more than the Yankees want to give for a longer period of time.

In 2008, there was talk of them trying to get Johan Santana. They ended up signing CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett the next off-season and they won the World Series.

The Shields situation may be a similar circumstance. Here’s why.

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Here’s who can be a free agent next season: Ian Kennedy, Johnny Cueto, Hisashi Iwakuma, Mat Latos, Mike Leake, Doug Fister, Rick Porcello, David Price, Jeff Samardzija, Jordan Zimmermann. Zack Greinke can also opt out of his contract. Let’s see how Shields stacks up over the past two seasons against some of this free agent class over the past two seasons.

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All stats per Fangraphs among qualified pitchers:

Wins: Zimmermann (4) Greinke (6) Fister (10) Iwakuma (14) Porcello (19) Shields (25)

XFIP: Price (8) Greinke (10) Iwakuma (11) Samardzija (15) Zimmermann (17) Porcello (21) Shields (34)

ERA- Greinke (7) Fister (11) Zimmermann (12) Shields (14)

WPA- Iwakuma (6) Greinke (7) Shields (9)

Pitches- Shields (1) Kennedy (17) Price (19) Leake (29)

K/9- Price (13) Kennedy (14) Greinke (19) Iwakuma (34) Shields (42)

Per Cot’s Contracts, the Yankees have $180 million committed to next season and then just $120 million for 2017. They can get creative with the contract like what the Nationals did with Max Scherzer if they are concerned about the luxury tax.

Look not all of those guys are going to hit the market. Price could re-sign. Porcello could stay with the Red Sox. The Nats could keep Zimmermann. We don’t really know what’s going to happen.

Shields is out there and until he signs there will be questions as to whether or not the Yankees will sign him. I don’t think the Yankees want to give up the compensatory selection for him as they look to rebuild their farm system.

The Yankees may be better off in saving their money for another pitcher next season who’s younger and with less mileage.

Next: Yankees Can't Sign Moncada because Of MLB?

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