Big Game James

As the calendar turns to the worst month (Sorry black history month it's the truth) there is a glimmer of hope at the end of the cold dark tunnel, pitchers and catchers.  There is one pitcher that everybody is wondering where he signs and that's James Shield. At first people thought he was going to get 110 million and now he has come down to 80 million. Now many teams are kicking the tires and seeing if they can get Shields on the cheap. Here are my top 5 on places he ends with


5. Arizona Diamondbacks... Dave Stewart has been open and public about liking James Shields. After trading Miley and if the price keeps dropping wouldn't be surprised if they made a late push.

4. Toronto Blue Jays...They paid a lot to get Canada's own Russell Martin, they got the bats and getting a great club house guy and a 200 inning machine to bring it all together would make perfect sense. With his experience in the post season it could help bring the Blue Jays back to the playoffs since  93 (Curse you Carter).

3 Boston Red Sox...Boston's off season is still incomplete they have 75 outfields but they still do not have an ace. The Sox built a good core of starters but they don't have a go to pitcher yet. If they are able to get Cole Hamels they won't get Shields, but as pitchers and catchers report the sox might pull the trigger.

2. Miami Marlins... The owner, Jeffery Loria,  I hate with a burning passion, I think he is pond scum, I feel he is building up the value just to sell it off. Anyway the Marlins look like they are "all in", and with their ace Fernandez won't be ready in start of the season and adding another veteran who has playoff experience is vital to the club and especially to that pitching staff. Also a trio of Fernanadez, Latos, and Shields is a good trio for any team.

1. Chicago Cubs... The Cubs are trying to do the impossible and win the World Series. Signing Lester was proof they are ready to compete. They have all these young bats, they have the coach, they are doing it for Mr. Cub...but they still need help. That starting pitching is a little suspect and adding Shields would help tremendously. Another way it helps is with Joe Maddon; He is coming in as a savior, and it would be great to have a guy in the club house who knows how Maddon works and they could look to him when Maddon brings an actual cub into the club house.

So there are my 5 teams that I think will land Shields. Now people are gonna say where are the Yankees, how can you not have the Yankees? Well I tell you, I do not think they are in at all and its Shields agent trying to build hype and more money and when the Yankees are in the money will go up. The new Steinbrenner's are nothing like their father. If they were they would have signed Lester to spite the Red Sox, so do not expect any big moves from them.