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The Los Angeles Dodgers have identified Tampa Bay Rays right-hander James Shields as their No. 1 target this offseason, reports Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com:
According to a source, the Dodgers identified right-hander James Shields as their No. 1 target.
The Rays have exercised Shields’ $10.25 million option for 2013. His contract also includes a $12 million team option for 2014. Due to the increase of his salary and given the Rays limited payroll, Shields’ name has been tossed around the rumor mill for some time.
Shields put together another impressive campaign this season, posting an ERA of 3.52 over 33 starts. The 30-year-old owns a career ERA of 3.89 over seven years with the Rays, but he’s maintained an even more impressive mark of 3.15 with 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings and 2.3 walks per nine innings over the past two seasons.
Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti has said that he is interested in adding a starting pitcher this offseason due to the uncertainty surrounding the health of Chad Billingsley and Ted Lilly.
