New York Yankees Trade Rumors: James Shields May Be Headed To The Yankees
According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, a major trade target of the New York Yankees has been placed on revocable waivers and could attract the attention of the Bronx Bombers before August 31. This player would add talent and depth to a New York Yankees rotation that has been all over the place this season. The Yankees are 17th in team pitching this season with an ERA of 3.94.
The New York Yankees may pursue San Diego Padres ace James Shields. Shields along with Matt Kemp were placed on waivers.
The Yankees missed out on all of the big name pitchers before the July 31 trade deadline. They were rumored to be interested in Johnny Cueto, Cole Hamels, and David Price, who all went separate ways. But the Yankees are still looking to upgrade their rotation, since they didn’t make any notable upgrades before the deadline.
Shields has struggled mightily in 2015 in terms of his ability to limit home runs, but other than that, this has been an average season for the 33-year-old pitcher. Shields’ walk rate has been slightly elevated this season, but it hasn’t affected his overall success. James is 8-4 on the season with a 3.75 ERA. Although these are not some of Shields’ best numbers, he has shown he can perform well under pressure, which the New York Yankees need as they hope to play in the postseason. Shields led the Kansas City Royals to the World Series last season.
As of Saturday, the New York Yankees lead the Toronto Blue Jays by 4 1/2 games in the American League East, but Toronto is currently making a strong push for the lead after adding Troy Tulowitzki and David Price to aide in their playoff push.
The main reason for the San Diego Padres to unload James Shields is salary relief. Shields is signed through 2018 and is due $63 million over the next three seasons. The New York Yankees probably wouldn’t mind taking on his hefty contract.
Trading Shields will be difficult for Padres general manager A.J. Preller, considering what he reportedly turned down and asked for in trades before the trade deadline, but if he were to be traded, the Yankees would have the best chance at landing him.
Do you think the New York Yankees will make a transaction in order to acquire James Shields? If not, what other moves do you see the New York Yankees making during this month of August?
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