James Shields is available..

[Blarg]

No. This team needs offense, wasting money on pitching when we cant afford a decent lineup would be stupid. We need a 3B, 2B, or LF.

The Angels don't need any if those.

[Turd Ferguson]

The good news is that if we only had to give up prospects, we won't really have to give up anything.

[nikkachez]

Heck yeah, but I don't think they'll take on that much money. Makes a lot of sense, though. Wil Myers would be another guy I'd look into, I'm worried about first base moving forward, that could be a great piece to help move forward. 

[Guest]

CJ Shields

[Ohtaniland]

I really don't see the Angels having the trade chips.

Arte won't pay for him even if we did.

[nando714]

Id rather have a guy who just started stretching and throwing 78mph fastballs

[ukyah]

i don't understand the people who've been saying this year and last that we don't need pitching. pitching is exactly what we do need. they need a LF too, but you can invent a LF through matchups. you can't invent a SP, you either have him or you don't.

 

the only way the angels are good pitchingwise is if, tropeano steps up big time and shoemaker finds his rookie form. otherwise, they are in it deep.

[gurn67]

Garry Shandling's house in Malibu is available too. I have about as much chance of affording that as the Angels do of putting enough pieces together to get Shields.

[DirkDrox]

Shields wasn't under consideration before... he isn't under consideration now.  The Angels are hoping to get by until May with a wounded Weaver, and when CJ Wilson + Skaggs are ready.  If the need a fill-in gap starter until then, there will be plenty available when other teams make their final roster cuts.

[gotbeer]

Angels will mortgage everything for Shields.  Shields will pitch great through April.  Then in May blow out his arm.  It's the Angels way.

[disarcina]

I'm leery of Shields -- Padres trying to unload that big contract.

Shields led KC to the World Series vs. SF two years ago - parlays that into the big payday contract with SD to pitch

in a pitcher's park - and promptly becomes among the league leaders in HRs given up.

His 2015 stats in a pitcher's park in SD creates significant doubt if he's worth the salary commitment

[Docwaukee]

He's owed 65mil for his age 34-36yo seasons.  I wouldn't care if he won a cy young last year.  No freakin thanks.  Besides, we don't have the bad contract to exchange.  

 

Seriously though, that is a horrendous contract.  Of course he's 'available'.  

 

When you pay a guy 20mil+ per season, the only reason to do so for ages 34-36 is so you can get their 30-33 seasons as well.  preferably less than that.  

 

There were 5 qualified pitchers who were 34 and above last year that had a WAR above 2.  One with a WAR above 3 (lackey at 3.6).  There were 7 with above 180ip.  

 

The Ian Kennedy contract has as good of odds to be worth it.