Yankees Editorial: Should the Yankees sign James Shields

James Shields is still on the free agent market as February and Spring Training both are getting very close.  Entering the off-season, Shields was highly regarded as the third best pitcher on the market, something that hasn’t changed.  It was expected that he would take a while to decide where he would be playing in 2015 and beyond, as he would first let the market for Jon Lester and Max Scherzer play out.

This move has turned out to hurt Shields as now there simply does not seem to be a market for him.  While the Kansas City Royals have been keeping an eye on Shields, they have six starters, and have likely moved on, as he priced himself out of their range.  Shields has not been linked to any teams, something strange for a pitcher with his talents.  Since entering the league in 2006, the 33 year old Shields has been as durable as they come, as he has yet to hit the disabled list.  Shields has also seemingly gotten better with age, something that should not be expected to continue for much longer.

With Scherzer taking so long to get the deal he wanted, the teams that whiffed on Lester generally moved on and signed second-tier pitching.  At the age of 33, signing Shields to a long term deal would be foolish of the New York Yankees, as they have young pitching both in the majors, and in the upper level of the minors.  Combine that with next winter’s crop of available pitching, and the Yankees seem wise to not get involved with any of the big name starters this winter.  With Shields still available this late in the winter and no sure thing in the Yankees rotation, would it be wise to offer a one-year deal to the starting pitcher?

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Shields would immediately upgrade the Yankees rotation for the 2015 season.  Since 2011, he has put up a 3.17 ERA and averaged 206 K’s a season.  Shields has also shown he can handle the AL East, something many pitchers cannot do.

Steamer currently has Shields projected to be worth a WAR of 3.0, which would be second on the Yankees staff behind Masahiro Tanaka, and sixth on the team overall, behind Tanaka, Chase Headley, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann, and Brett Gardner.  This is also good for 17th among all MLB pitchers.  If the Yankees were able to bring in a top-20 pitcher, on a short term deal, without depleting the farm system once again, as they would have to for Cole Hamels, Stephen Strasburg, or Jordan Zimmermann, then it is worth looking into.

As great as Luis Severino has looked so far, he is still young (turns 21 the day the Yankees pitchers and catchers report), and has yet to pitch above Double-A.  If somebody is to hit the DL mid-season, the Yankees may feel pressure to rush Severino to the big leagues, but signing Shields will negate that pressure.  A staff of Tanaka, Shields, Michael Pineda, CC Sabathia, and Nathan Eovaldi would be the best in the division, and one of the best in the the AL, if not the entire MLB.  Also, Ivan Nova will be back at some point, hungry and looking to take somebody’s job, as many have forgotten him entirely, after a very strong 2013.

If I was Brian Cashman, I offer Shields a one year contract that he cannot refuse, and add to the pitching depth that has already been established.  As we saw last season, you can never have too many pitchers, and having six talented starters, with two more who are very capable in Chris Capuano and Adam Warren, and a top prospect in the minors in Severino, starting pitching would no longer be a question mark, it would be a plus.

The Yankees are currently projected to finish five games behind the Red Sox for the AL East crown, and tied for third in the division, and eight in the AL.  Adding Shields 3.0 WAR would push them to second in the division, and fourth in the AL, although this is something that could be even furthered by Shields ability to go deep into games.

If Shields realizes that the $100 million contract he wants is not out there, maybe he will accept a one year offer with the hopes of signing earlier in the off-season next winter.

Next: Why The Yankees May Pass On James Shields?