If there is a forgotten man in Major League Baseball's vast crop of unsigned free-agent pitchers, it's James Shields.
Sure, the 32-year-old right-hander has been the subject of numerous rumors. But while twin aces Max Scherzer and Jon Lester have commanded the offseason spotlight, Shields has been mostly shoved into the shadows.
Is this fair? That's an interesting question.
On the one hand, Shields looks like an attractive target for any club that needs pitching—and really, what club doesn't?
After all, Shields just posted a 3.21 ERA to go along with 180 strikeouts and a 1.181 WHIP with the American League-champion Kansas City Royals.
Plus, he started an MLB-leading 34 games and tossed 227 innings, the eighth straight time he's eclipsed the 200-inning mark in his nine-year career.
That's Shields' defining trait: durability. It's the biggest concern any team should have when locking up a starter for the long haul—can this guy stay healthy?
But (could you sense there was a "but" coming?) doubts remain about his, well, how shall we put this? Fortitude.
Blame it on the nickname. You know the one, "Big Game James." It haunted Shields in the 2014 postseason, during which he coughed up 17 earned runs in 25 innings.
Overall, he owns a pedestrian 5.46 playoff ERA, which pretty much puts the "big game" business to rest.
Except that stuff tends to stick; reputations, good or bad, are hard to shake. And right now, it's possible Shields is a victim of his own mythology.
If he is being doubted by potential free-agent suitors, it wouldn't be the first time he's faced adversity.
When Kansas City acquired Shields from the Tampa Bay Rays prior to the 2013 season for a package of top prospects, it wasn't a widely popular move. In fact, Rob Neyer, now of FoxSports.com, called it the "worst trade in MLB history."
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2288335-france-should-grant-legend-thierry-henry-a-farewell-appearanceSo far, Shields has answered with a resounding "yes."
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