Time is running short to fulfill reports free-agent pitcher James Shields will sign a contract for 2015.
This much is clear: The New York Yankees are out of the mix.
Barring a change made necessary by injury, Yankees GM Brian Cashman told New York radio station WFAN: "The heavy lifting, for right now, is over."
For now, the San Diego Padres are the team most likely to sign Shields. They need a solid starter, and he is from the San Diego area.
Scott Miller of Bleacher Report tweeted Saturday that talks have “heated up and are gaining momentum” between Shields and the Padres. A big selling point for the Padres is Petco Park, one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in baseball.
The Padres have money to pay for Shields, team executive chairman Ron Fowler told the San Diego Union-Tribune. Adding Shields would be another big offseason move by aggressive general manager A.J. Preller. The team went hard for right-handed hitters in its earlier moves.
"With A.J. in the GM seat, things could change quickly," Fowler said. "He continues to look at options to strengthen the team."
However, the Union-Tribune said no deal with Shields was imminent.
HCashman's Friday comments mean the Yanks won't be adding another big-name free agent, the Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., said.
OAnother team that appears to be in play: the Chicago Cubs. As the Cubs continue their massive buildup, Shields could be the final piece in their rotation overhaul.
“Wouldn't that be a nice prize or present?” new manager Joe Maddon told the MLB Network Radio show "Inside Pitch" on Friday. Maddon knows Shields from their time with the Tampa Bay Rays.
"From day one, I've been talking about James," said Maddon, as reported by The Chicago Tribune. "Shieldsy — a tremendous competitor. You've heard me talk about him in the past. Even when Jon Lester came on board, we were talking (about him) even before that."
Teams with pitching needs have shied away from Shields, in part because of reports he wants $100 million over five years. And at 33, that's a huge risk.
The other drawback: A team signing Shields would fork over its first-round pick in this summer's draft.
The Yankees have major question marks in their rotations. CC Sabathia and others are injury risks, the Star-Ledger noted.
The Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins also are in the mix. And Sports Illustrated offered this list of possibilities: St. Louis Cardinals, Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels and the Padres.
Several of those teams are known to have balked at signing Shields because of the required compensation and salary demands.
When all is said and done, don't dismiss the idea of Shields staying with the Kansas City Royals. They're the one team that could sign him and not have to cough up a high draft pick.
In Sporting News' grading of A.L. teams' offseason moves, Jesse Spector saddled the Royals with a D-plus. Retain Shields, and that grade jumps.
But the Kansas City Star recently noted Shields doesn't seem to fit the Royals' plans or budget.