James Shields is set to become a free agent after the Kansas City Royals postseason run and while the Royals are expected to try to retain their ace, the Boston Red Sox appear to be the early favorites to land the services of the right-handed starting pitcher.
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James Shields is likely focused on his upcoming start for the Kansas City Royals against the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Championship Series, but the right-hander can become a free agent after the season. While the Royals will likely try to convince Shields to re-sign, their resources are limited, and
the Kansas City Star
the Boston Red Sox are the early favorites to sign Shields.
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Shields will likely be the more affordable of the top tier of free agent starting pitchers (which also includes Jon Lester and Max Scherzer), and the Red Sox will have some money to spend this winter to improve the team. Shields also has familiarity with the American League East, the Red Sox’s division, as Shields spent the first seven years of his career with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Shields is expected to be looking for a five-year deal in free agency and while he’s 32-years old, he’s been durable throughout his career, making 34 starts for the Royals in 2014 and 2013, and 33 starts each year while with the Rays for the five years before 2013 (and 31 starts in 2007, his second season). The Royals and the Red Sox won’t be the only suitors for Shields, who must decline a likely qualifying offer from Kansas City before he’s a free agent.
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