MLB Trade Rumors: San Diego Padres Look To Trade James Shields
MLB trade rumors indicate that the San Diego Padres are shopping James Shields. As the MLB trade deadline draws closer, the Padres might just deal Shields to another team looking for starting pitching. With several playoff contenders like the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Angels looking to add some pitching, the Padres might be able to swing a deal to get out his contract. A report from CBS Sports on Saturday, July 11, indicates that the front office in San Diego is calling other teams to gauge trade interest.
This is a big deal, as coming into the 2015 MLB season, the San Diego Padres were supposed to contend for a National League West title. Acquiring Justin Upton, Matt Kemp, Craig Kimbrel, and James Shields was supposed to be enough to battle with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants. Instead, it has turned into an ugly campaign and the front office is trying to cut its losses before the MLB trade deadline hits on July 31.
As previously reported by the Inquisitr, there was also trade chatter involving Justin Upton that had been going around. In the final season of his deal, it is expected that he will choose free agency in the upcoming MLB offseason. Upton is going to get a huge contract from a new team, so the Padres risk losing him for nothing if a trade isn’t worked out. The team might not get a lot back, since he will be a two month rental, but any team netting an All-Star outfielder will gain some momentum.
As for these new MLB trade rumors about James Shields, he could certainly help the starting rotation of almost any team. During the 2015 MLB season, he has a 7-3 record, a 3.88 ERA, and a 1.266 WHIP over 111 1/3 innings. Now those aren’t exactly numbers that will blow anyone away, but Shields is capable of pitching a lot of innings and coming up big in the postseason. He could definitely help shore up a staff going through injuries and help save the bullpen every fifth day in a new city.
During the offseason, the San Diego Padres gave Shields a long-term contract that will pay him $21 million a season from 2016-2018. He then has a team option of $16 million in the 2019 MLB season, which comes with a $2 million buyout. It’s an expensive deal that makes him one of the highest paid pitchers (per season) next year, so any team willing to take him on has to pay a lot for him.
It’s certainly possible that the front office in San Diego tests out the market and decides to hang on to James Shields. The risk that has been taken, though, is that he may not be pleased that the team is shopping him in the first season of his new deal. There are likely to be many more MLB trade rumors about the Padres in the coming weeks, especially if the team continues to flounder in the standings. Buckle up fans, because the blue skies promised by the front office have not arrived.
[Image Source: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images]
