New York Yankees Editorial: Should the Yankees Target James Shields?

San Diego Padres right-handed pitcher ‘Big Game’ James Shields has cleared revocable trade waivers, which means A.J. Preller is fee to trade him to any team prior to the August 31st MLB Waiver Deadline. Should Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees look to make a deal for Shields?

Well, according to Nick Caffardo of the Boston Globe, Shields is already a ‘major trade target’ for Brian Cashman, but here’s a more in depth look into why I think Shields would be a good fit with the New York Yankees.

For starters, the Yankees rotation has been in flux since the start of the regular season. Masahiro Tanaka spent a month on the DL, Ivan Nova is wildly inconsistent since coming off tommy john surgery, CC Sabathia is downward spiraling and Michael Pineda is out until at least September. Right now the Yankees are relying heavily on 21-year old prospect Luis Severino, the revamped mechanics of Nathan Eovaldi and spot start’s from their bullpen guys to keep their pitching a float.

Unfortunately I have news for skipper Joe Girardi and GM Brian Cashman. This pitching plan will no longer work, and this weekends sweep at the hands of the second place Toronto Blue Jays to pull within 1.5 games of the division lead is a prime example why.

The Yankees are ranked 17th in team pitching this season with an ERA of 3.94. Something needs to change, and that something should be James Shields.

Yes, James Shields has struggled a bit for the Padres in 2015, and his home run rates don’t make him an appealing addition to the dimensions of Yankee Stadium, but the 33-year old is still an above-average MLB pitcher. He is currently 8-4 on the season with a 3.75 ERA and 160 strikeouts, and who can forget that Shields led the Kansas City Royals to the World Series just 10 months ago. Not to mention he is also a work horse, and is closing in on nine consecutive seasons with over 200 + innings pitched, something the Yankees can certainly use given all the problems surrounding their pitching staff.

Also, it’s no secret that Preller is looking to deal James Shields to free up some salary cap space for the future of the San Diego Padres. Shields is signed through 2018 and is due $63 million over the next three seasons. He is owed about $2.25MM for the remainder of this season, and then $21MM annually in each of the next three seasons along with a $16MM team option for 2019. As a high-salary team, the Yankees probably wouldn’t mind flexing their financial stability and taking on the remainder of Shields’ contract, especially at it’s entirety if it means giving up less prospects in exchange for Shields.

Obviously if Preller doesn’t decrease his demands there’s no way he’ll be able to trade James Shields or any of his players for that matter to a team like the New York Yankees who covet their top prospects. However, since the MLB Trade Deadline, the Padres have wen’t 2-7, falling to fourth place in the NL West and 11 games back of the NL wildcard. Their season is just about over, and you’d have to imagine that this is putting even more pressure on Preller from management to shed payroll and open up some flexibility for the upcoming offseason.

Sounds like the perfect time for Cashman to drop in and work some magic.

More from Yanks Go Yard

Home/Yankees News