The James Shields free agency watch has officially gone on far longer than anyone expected, and it is virtually unprecedented for a player of Shields' caliber to remain a free agent this close to spring training.
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Teams have been reluctant to pursue Shields for a variety of reasons, but mainly, teams are just not willing to pay a pitcher that is Shields' age (he is 33) an eight-figure sum over five years. Recently, rumors have begun swirling that Shields is likely willing to accept a four-year deal now, and for less than his original $20 million per season demand. The lowered asking price is expected to bring several teams into the mix for his services.
One team that is admittedly a long shot to land Shields is the Chicago Cubs, however, they may still elect to pursue him. According to Bleacher Nation, the Cubs are probably most interested in saving their money to pursue one of the top-flight free agent pitchers that will be available after the 2015 season ends.
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However, baseball's best front offices are always on the lookout for a deal, and getting Shields this late in free agency for a discounted price would certainly represent a bargain. The Cubs are on the verge of contending, and one more big arm may put them squarely into the playoff hunt, but the question remains whether they think they are ready to make that leap this season or if their budding stars need one more year to progress.
There are other players that Chicago could move to create some financial flexibility if they do not want to go over budget for Shields, or if they want to consider adding Shields and another star pitcher next offseason. Also, after signing Jon Lester already this offseason, the team would have a devastating rotation if they were to snag Shields and add another arm in a year. That may be something that is just too good to pass up, regardless of how it stretches the team's budget.
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