Report: James Shields to decide on free-agency offers by end of week
Free-agent pitcher James Shields will make a decision about where he will pitch next season by the end of the week, reports FOX Sports' Jon Morosi.
Shields rejected a one-year, $15.3 million qualifying offer from the Kansas City Royals after helping the team reach the World Series. Earlier this offseason, FOX Sports reported that Shields had a five-year, $110 million offer on the table from an unknown team.
Morosi reports that the San Diego Padres and New York Yankees have been in contact with Shields' agent. The Royals will receive a draft pick for compensation if Shields signs with another team.
The Miami Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks were thought to have an interest in Shields, but reportedly backed off their pursuit of Shields because of the price tag.
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Shields, 33, went 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA, 80 strikeouts, 44 walks in 34 starts last year and has pitched 200 or more innings in each of the past eight seasons. He made four starts during the Royals' postseason run to the World Series but failed to reach the seventh inning in any of those starts, posting a 5.85 ERA over 20 innings.
Shields has a 114-90 record and 3.72 ERA in nine MLB seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays and Kansas City.
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