The Miami Marlins are still in talks with starting pitcher James Shields, and are looking to bring in yet another huge piece as they look to contend for the postseason in 2015.
James Shields is by far the best Major League Baseball free agent left on the market at this point in time, but he intends to make a decision on where to play next season very soon. The Miami Marlins are still searching for more starting pitching help, and are reportedly still in talks with Shields.
"Not sure if they are the frontrunner or not, but can confirm #Marlins remain in talks for James Shields. — Joe Frisaro (@JoeFrisaro) February 4, 2015"
There are plenty of teams that have shown interest in Shields this season, but the Marlins have been one of the more persistent suitors for him. Whether or not they end up signing him or not, they have still shown that they are very serious about winning in the near future. It is a nice change for Marlins fans, but they still have some work to do before they get to where they need to be.
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Shields had a solid year last season with the Kansas City Royals, and was a key piece that helped them get to the World Series. They came up just short against the San Francisco Giants, but it was still a huge step for the Royals’ franchise.
During the 2014 season, Shields finished with a 14-8 overall record to go along with a 3.21 ERA and 180 strikeouts. He was a veteran leader for the Royals, and came through in big games when they needed him. Without him, the Royals likely wouldn’t have made the World Series.
All of that being said, Shields is 33 years old and is beginning to decline a bit from his prime. Any team that signs him has to be careful of the type of deal that they give him. It wouldn’t be wise to give him more than three or four years on his deal.
Miami has already picked up Mat Latos this offseason, and also signed Michael Morse from the Giants. They also were able to re-sign star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton to a massive 13-year extension.
It will be interesting to see what the Marlins are able to do during the 2015 season. They have picked up some very important piece to go along with some of their young talent, and they are feeling pretty good about their situation. Obviously they’d like to bring in one more high-end pitcher, and perhaps Shields will be that guy.
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