James Shields

[Jeff Fletcher]

That's like saying "You stuck your hand on the stove twice and got burned already so why don't you want to do it again?"

I don't honestly get why they won't go over the luxury tax. I do get why they don't want to give out more big contracts.

Those are separate issues by the way.

[Angel Oracle]

That, I agree with. 

No more big contracts to aging players, but also at the same time going over the luxury tax by a few million shouldn't be a big deal if a better player for the money and not for a huge contract comes along.

[Butcher'd]

Arte was burned 3 times in 2 years by bad FA contracts (Pujols, CJ, Hamilton). 

 

I think Wilson's contract will be over before we sign another big name FA. Having 3 bad contracts on the team sucks. What's worse than that? 4.

[MVTrout]

Yep, who wants a guy better than all but possibly two of our current starters? Not me, I'd much rather have somebody.

Ok, seriously, now you're just trolling me!

[Stradling]

Ok, seriously, now you're just trolling me!

Ok all joking aside, if his contract isn't the hold up, in other words he is around 4 years and $70 million, then why wouldn't you want his production?

[tdawg87]

Didn't we already have 3 pages of that?

[Brent Maguire]

I've come around to the James Shields idea a bit but I'm still not in favor of it. 

 

Going into 2016, the Angels will have Richards, Shoemaker, Heaney, Skaggs, Weaver, Wilson, Santiago, Tropeano, Smith and McGowin as starting rotation options with Sean Newcomb not too far behind. 

 

Factor in Shields being signed through his mid 30's and the loss of the 1st round pick and I'm still against it. Shields will probably pitch like his usual self in 2015 and possibly 2016 but there's still a to of risk involved in a guy who has pitched so many innings for so long. 

 

Plus, Weaver, Wilson, Hamilton, Pujols and Trout all see raises in 2016 while Freese, Iannetta and Street are FA. They seem to have plenty of pitching going forward and need the resources to help other spots on the team. 

[wopphil]

The longer he remains unsigned, the more I have to wonder if he can be acquired on very team friendly terms (like somewhere between 3/50 and 4/65). The last time a pitcher remained unsigned this late into the off-season was Kyle Lohse a couple years ago, and he settled 3/33, I believe.

Pull the trigger here Arte.

[tdawg87]

I agree with Fletcher that he'll fall to Boston/New York before falling to the Angels.

Realistically I don't see the Angels signing him unless he takes something like 3/48. I'd be certain the Yankees and Bosox would pay him a lot more than that though. Probably more teams as well. Basically, he'll have to really really want to play here.

[ELEVEN]

1. I think he will go to the Red Sox eventually.

2. Were the Steinbrenner boys adopted?

[DMVol]

Arte was burned 3 times in 2 years by bad FA contracts (Pujols, CJ, Hamilton). 

I think Wilson's contract will be over before we sign another big name FA. Having 3 bad contracts on the team sucks. What's worse than that? 4.

I don't think CJ's contract was terrible....he was ok, up and down some, in 12; very good in 13; and too much up and down and not very good in 14....that's pretty standard for a long term deal for a pitcher...not great but certainly not Hamilton or Wells....

[Mark68]

Dont sign Shields.  Too old.  Just wait until next year's deep free agency.

Yep. Save the money for Price next year.

[Mark68]

1. I think he will go to the Red Sox eventually.

2. Were the Steinbrenner boys adopted?

1. Probably.

 

2. Apparently, the Yankees were serious about trying to get under the luxury tax. That's the only explanation I have for their mystifying absence this offseason. They also may want to wait on what happens with A-Rod and the eleventy billion left on his contract.

[Angel Oracle]

1. Probably.

 

2. Apparently, the Yankees were serious about trying to get under the luxury tax. That's the only explanation I have for their mystifying absence this offseason. They also may want to wait on what happens with A-Rod and the eleventy billion left on his contract.

Mainly true, although the Steinbrenner boys may also be staying quiet because they spent some $400 million on 3 long term contracts the previous off-season. 

Edited January 30, 2015 by Angel Oracle

[Turd Ferguson]

I'm as big a proponent of SP depth as anyone, but I want nothing to do with Shields--or, more accurately, nothing to do with his contract.  Even if he comes at a "discount" at this late hour, it will still be a substantial, long term contract.  Why blow past the luxury tax now?  Give some of these young arms a shot and lets see how 2b shakes out.  If we are going to go past the luxury tax, it should be for a mid-season acquisition when we have a better idea of what our needs are.

[Adam]

I don't think CJ's contract was terrible....he was ok, up and down some, in 12; very good in 13; and too much up and down and not very good in 14....that's pretty standard for a long term deal for a pitcher...not great but certainly not Hamilton or Wells....

 

Agreed. 2015 is a make or break year in terms of assessing CJ's contract. If he goes out and throws 200 innings with a sub 4 ERA I think you have to call the contract a mild success at worst. 

[KevinJ14]

Apparently, his price tag dropped to the $50MM range with around $18 mil/year according to MLBTR.

[Chimi]

Both Lester and Sherzer signed deals that took them to Age 37.  The problem with Shields is he's already 33 years old.  The max amount of years he can reasonable expect to get is around 4 and even then, I wouldn't do it.  He was never going to get a $100MM+ contract at his age like people were predicting.  I think at this point, he's going to get 3 years and maybe somewhere between $48-$54 million.  Not a bad deal for some team out there but I don't think I'd want the Angels biting at that price either.  If the Angels could get him at something like 3/$39MM, I think they'd at least be tempted to go for it.  

[Hollyw00d]

Id go 3 years 50 mil. That's pretty reasonable, and he's got upside to outperform that. He's more talented than cj, and he has a longer track record of success.

Dude could put us over the top if he performs, throw the postseason stats out the window.

[ukyah]

Id go 3 years 50 mil. That's pretty reasonable, and he's got upside to outperform that. He's more talented than cj, and he has a longer track record of success.

Dude could put us over the top if he performs, throw the postseason stats out the window.

 

3 year contracts are safe contracts. it's very hard to get burned.

[tdawg87]

3/54? I'd be on board with that.

[Angel Oracle]

Concur, that is not paying big bucks big years to aging vets. Three years with a team option may be doable, and gives them really good pitching depth.

It seems like Arte is really quiet now. I'm actually not broken up about it, we seem to finally have a good plan in place again. In JeDi, we trust.

[nikkachez]

I would do 3-years for Shields in a heartbeat. 200+ innings of a mid-3 ERA is exactly what this rotation needs. I don't think it happens, I think the team would want someone to take Wilson or they could stash Heaney and Tropeano in Salt Lake, but it would be an amazing move. 

 

Richards

Weaver

Shields

Shoemaker

Heaney

 

Tropeano in Salt Lake

 

Santiago and Rasmus in the pen 

[Troll Daddy]

CJ Wilson and Shields have the same career 3.72 ERA.

Weird

[Turd Ferguson]

At this point, could he go the Nelson Cruz route and sign a 1 year deal?  Seems awful risky for a SP but seems that his market is ice cold.