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Will Shields, Lester, or Hamels be the Boston Red Sox ace in 2015?

By Sean Sylver |

The Boston Red Sox traded away 80 percent of their Opening Day starting rotation in 2014. If they plan to contend in 2015, it is likely they won’t feature a staff of Clay Buchholz, Joe Kelly, Rubby De La Rosa, Allen Webster and Anthony Ranaudo. Some of those names are attached to useful arms, but this group needs an ace.

We asked the BSI staff: who will be the Red Sox ace in 2015?

Joe Meehan: Cole Hamels. I’d love for it to be Jon Lester, and although I believe they should give him anything he asks for, I just don’t see them giving him the years and money that he wants. I’m praying it isn’t James Shields, because if we sign a guy with the nickname “Big Game,” I’d prefer he not struggle in big games. So I think, with the surplus of prospects in the farm system, the best move for the Sox would be to make a trade and Hamels makes the most sense. He’s durable and would’ve received a lot more attention if he wasn’t playing for such a bad team. On a related note, the Phillies may finally be willing to sell and Hamels comes with a contract in the range of what the Sox would like to give Lester. It would be beneficial for both parties.

Conor Duffy: James Shields isn’t the best pitcher on the market by any means but, more than Lester, Max Scherzer, or anybody else, he represents the best available balance of great pitching at a reasonable price. Since posting a 5.18 ERA in 2010, Shields has been among the most consistently solid and durable pitchers in baseball and recorded another solid season in 2014 with a 3.21 ERA in his second season with the Royals. Due to his age – Shields is 32 years old – his contract will not be as high as Lester or Scherzer, though, as the Red Sox could likely land him on a four or five year deal worth roughly $20M per season. Despite his age, he should have at least a few more solid seasons left in him and would have a great chance to deliver on Boston’s investment, perhaps better than any other ace candidate.

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Sean Sylver: James Shields. To quote Terence Mann in Field of Dreams, “it is money they have, and peace they like.” The Red Sox also have prospects to deal, but if you’re going to employ a $20+ million starting pitcher, why trade assets when there are good ones available on the open market? I think the Red Sox will, and should, make a run at Lester, but just because you have the money doesn’t mean you have to act like a drunken sailor. Lester will get PAID.

Shields’ postseason record is spotty. So is Clayton Kershaw‘s. Sign this guy up and put the cash to work elsewhere.

Ryan Hathaway: James Shields If you’ve read anything I’ve written on this site, this should not be a shock: BOY, do I want to write Chris Sale here! Alas, I ultimately don’t see a Sale trade coming to fruition, so I will have to stick with my guy from the start, James Shields. “Big Game James” has not lived up to his moniker on the biggest stage but I am going to ignore the panic meter and remain steadfast in my commitment to the resume Shields has acquired and more importantly maintained the past four seasons. I have always been an upside guy but Lester worries me. Three of the last five years have seen him post an ERA above 3.50; hardly ace-quality pitching.

While the dysfunction that was the 2012 Red Sox seemed to affect the entire team, it was particularly concerning to see the 28-year old crumble to career lows amidst the calamity. Few remember just how bad Lester can be when he is off. I’m not willing to gamble $25 million dollars on inconsistency.

I could be totally wrong. It could just be that Lester has grown better with age, but if I’m not wrong, it’s Carl Crawford all over again.

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