James Shields rumors: Offers might be too many years for Red Sox?

James Shields is pitching for the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series. He is set to hit free agency at season’s end, and the length of his offer could go a long way towards determining where he signs.

Given the nature of the MLB Hot Stove and the circulation of rumors as fans daydream about what the future could hold for their teams, people are starting to put together the pieces of the puzzle as to where James Shields will pitch next season.

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Shields is still trying to live up to his “Big Game James” nickname for the Royals in this year’s playoffs, and already many people are imagining what he will look like as a member of the Boston Red Sox. That has been the fit that many people have pointed to, but Shields might command more than the Red Sox are willing to offer on the open market.

According to Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald:

"No wonder executives from multiple teams are beginning to think Shields will get five-year offers once he reaches free agency next month. And if that’s the case, the 32-year-old right-hander won’t represent any safer of an investment for the Red Sox than Lester.The pitching-needy Sox will undoubtedly try to lure Shields by hiking the average annual value of their best offer to at least $20 million in exchange for shortening the contract to no more than four years."

The interesting thing about this situation is that Shields hasn’t even pitched that well in this year’s playoffs. Misguided nicknames aside, proven top-of-the-rotation starting pitchers are hard to find, and some team will overpay for Shields at a time when the Red Sox have vowed not to overpay in free agency, especially in terms of years.

It should be interesting to see which interest wins out this winter.