The Chicago Cubs, run by Theo Epstein, are continuing in their efforts to put together a winning lineup ahead of the 2015 season. Now reports are abounding that the team wants to ad star pitcher and free agent James Shields to their rotations.
David Kaplan of Comcast Sports Net in Chicago tweeted, “Cubs have been waiting to see where market goes+Shields has interest. There are several others involved but history w/Maddon is a factor.”
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107 years and counting. The Cubs last won it all in 1908.
While Chicago saw the Bears win a Super Bowl 30 years ago, the Bulls win 6 NBA championships in the 90s and the White Sox end an 88 year drought ten years ago, Cubs fans are still suffering.
Jews around the world can honestly tell Cubs fans everywhere, “We feel your pain.”
Now with the man who brought a World Championship back to Boston after 86 years running things in Chicago, Epstein, and a new and successful manager, Joe Maddon, Chicago fans are hoping for a change in fortune.
James Shields pitched last year for the American League Champion Kansas City Royals and is now a free agent. Last year he had a 14-8 record to go along with a 3.21 ERA and 180 strikeouts.
Shields has also become more affordable. In the last few months he has gone from commanding an expected 5 year contract for as much as $110 million from whoever signs him to only the $70-80 million range.
But he is already 33 years old which makes his future questionable. So if the Cubs sign him they will be expecting to squeeze the most out of Shields in the next two to three seasons.
If signed he would become the teams’ number two starter behind its newly signed ace John Lester.
Shields is said to currently be considering offers from the Marlins, Yankees, Padres and Cardinals.
