White Sox right-hander James Shields will not opt out of the remaining two years of his contract, tweets SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo. Much like last night’s official report on Yoenis Cespedes planning to opt out of his deal, this news was widely expected, as Shields’ considerable 2016 struggles made it extremely unlikely that he’d forgo the remaining $44MM on his contract in search of a new deal.
Shields, 35 in December, was one of the marquee free agents of the 2014-15 offseason on the heels of a strong two-year run with the Royals and a four-year platform during which he averaged 233 innings of 3.17 ERA ball to go along with 8.0 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9. That lengthy stretch of excellence led to a four-year, $75MM contract originally signed with the Padres. That deal afforded him the right to opt out after his first two seasons in search of a larger contract, but Shields’ decline seemingly began the moment the 2015 season opened.
While his 2015 campaign was respectable, Shields’ numbers took a hit, as he logged a 3.91 ERA with 3.6 BB/9 and 1.5 HR/9. He still managed to clear 200 innings that year, though, and he averaged well over a strikeout per inning, giving some optimism that he could rebound in 2016. Instead, Shields struggled through the worst season of his career this year, logging a 5.85 ERA with 6.7 K/9, 4.1 BB/9 and a 40.4 percent ground-ball rate in 181 2/3 innings. Each of those numbers, including his innings total, was a career-worst for Shields dating back to his first full big league season in 2007. Further complicating matters was a fastball that averaged just 90.4 mph — a continuance in his velocity’s decline and almost certainly a factor in his stunning susceptibility to home runs (1.98 HR/9).
Shields actually got off to a solid start to the season and had a 3.06 ERA as late in the year as May 25, but he was shelled for 10 runs in 2 2/3 innings on Memorial Day. That brutal outing didn’t deter the White Sox from swinging a trade to acquire Shields and a hefty amount of cash to offset some of his contract shortly thereafter. The Sox sent righty Erik Johnson (who recently underwent Tommy John surgery) and minor leaguer Fernando Tatis Jr. to the Padres in exchange for Shields and about $31MM, which covered more than half of the $58MM he was still owed at the time of the trade.
At the time, the White Sox were in first place in the American League Central thanks to a hot start but were in need of some stable innings behind Chris Sale and Jose Quintana in the rotation. Highly touted young lefty Carlos Rodon was inconsistent early in the season, and right-hander Mat Latos was released in early June when he tanked after a strong start to the year. However, Shields was unable to function even as an innings eater in his new environs. He did have a nice seven-start stretch from late June through late July (2.11 ERA in 47 innings), but his overall work with the South Siders resulted in a 6.77 ERA in 114 1/3 innings.
The $31MM that the Padres included to facilitate the deal makes the White Sox’ remaining commitment to Shields a bit easier to stomach, as they’ll pay him $10MM in each of the next two seasons and will also be on the hook for the $2MM buyout of his 2019 option. While that’s certainly not an enviable financial obligation, it shouldn’t be entirely ruled out that Shields can rebound to at least eat up innings at the back of the Chicago rotation. The Sox aren’t paying him like the front-line pitcher he once was and don’t need him to perform as such, either, given the presence of Sale, Quintana and a seemingly improving Rodon ahead of Shields in starting mix. While it certainly seems likely that the Sox will shop Shields’ contract around this winter, it goes without saying that he’s a difficult piece to move, so the team’s best bet may simply be to hope for a better performance in 2017. If he can return to even his 2015 level of performance, he’d justify the $10MM that the Sox have committed to him in each of the next two seasons. If, however, 2017 brings more of the same, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Shields cut loose entirely.
That sucks
Yeah why would he? “He’s getting his money for nothing and his tricks for free”
Dire Straits :p
Excellent reference.
Well played mack22.
Isn’t it “chicks” for free? lol
Yes, it is “chicks for free”. I was Twisting by the Pool in the 80s to that song.
As for Shields, “that little fa*got he’s a millionaire”. (Not really, I hope Big Game James lives up to his nickname in 2017 except for the Crosstown Classic when my Kyle will take him deep a couple times..)
I want my, I want my, I want my MTV
That’s actually not a terrible contracts (2/$20) for the White Sox, considering the market. Shields still has more upside than downside.
More upside than downside? The guy lost 19 games and had an ERA just under 6. He is atrocious.
Get that “lost 19 games” out of here dbacksrs! Pitcher wins and losses are irrelevant.
only to you. W’s and L’s tell quite a bit about starting pitchers. Just because you don’t see that, don’t dismiss those who do.
Not just to me, to everyone. All a win tells you about the pitcher is that he recorded at least one out and the team won that game. Just because you don’t realize that wins and losses are irrelevant doesn’t mean they aren’t.
Only difference is that Shelby Miller’s ERA was respectable. Look at Shields ERA and tell me that his 19 losses didn’t mean anything.
Next thing they’ll say is the HR’s allowed, 40 in the case of James Shields, don’t mean anything.
If the offense went ham every time Shields pitched this year and he won every game he pitched, that still wouldn’t mean he pitched well.
No because it is Shields’ fault when he allows a home run. It isn’t necessarily his fault when he gets a loss. Strawmanning doesn’t help your argument bruh.
Win-loss is the most useless stat out there
How about home runs allowed and ERA? I think in certain cases (Brandon Webb’s 2004 season
As I said, STARTING pitchers have meaning in their W-L record. If he records one out and his team wins, it shows nothing on his W-L record, because he didn’t pitch enough to qualify. If a pitcher gets 30 starts and ends up with a 7-5 record, it tells me he didn’t pitch deep in games. Relief pitchers, I agree with you. All it tells you is how/when his manager used him. How you feel about it, just tells me you believe what others write. To say winning 20 games means nothing is ludicrous. It shows consistency.
Let me know if any pitcher wins every game with an unsightly ERA/WHIP. Myself, I cant discount Steve Carleton winning 27 games for a last place team. It meant a lot about his ability.
more useless than HBP?
No because it is possible to pitch poorly and still win 20 games if you have a great offense behind you. Colby Lewis was terrible last year and still managed to go 17-9 because the Rangers were a good team. But did he pitch better than Shelby Miller last year? Didn’t think so pal!
Wins and losses are irrelevant and anyone who says differently is simply in denial.
Well no one is denying that Steve Carlton had a fantastic season in 1972 and his ERA reflects that. But if he had gone 0-27 that year because the offense hadn’t scored any runs behind him, my opinion of how he pitched would remain exactly the same, and so should yours.
PREACH
I’ll write the next opt-out decision headline for you:
“Scott Kazmir Will Not Exercise Opt-Out Clause”
Good call on Kazmir, he was terrible this year.
There’s no way he gets $17M AAV on a contract this winter. It would be a good choice.
@Steve: Hypothetically speaking, if James opted out of his contract, would the White Sox be required to return a prorated portion of the cash that went to them by the Padres in the original swap that would have covered the two remaining years on James’ contract (sorry, it’s a mouthful)? Or is that money free and clear for ownership to do with it as they please?
I’m sure that each similar scenario has its own nuances, but was wondering if there was something akin to a standard on the matter.
Thanks
The Padres only owe the Sox all that money if Shields doesn’t opt out. But it’s a moot point now.
So the White Sox are responsible for $10M of Shields contract over each of the next two seasons and his (presumed) $2M option buyout in 2019. That’s not an awful situation provided Shields can actually pitch like he did in 2015 and for his two successful stretches last season. After all, Shields will be likely be the White Sox #4 or #5 pitcher in 2017 assuming he is not dealt and they do not trade either Chris Sale or Jose Quintana this off-season.
The White Sox were paying John Danks more each season to pitch in a similar role and with less overall effectiveness during the course of his 5yr/$65M contract extension that finally expired in 2016.
Hahahahaha I have seen more than one person say Shields was guaranteed to opt out within the past year. Oh how the tides have changed.
There was very, very little chance he got 2/42 on the market as a 35-year-old anyway.
James Shields was the most White Sox thing to ever happen to the White Sox. Formerly consistent and successful player completely implodes immediately upon arriving in Chicago? The headlines write themselves.
He was already imploding right before they traded him. I remember watching the last game he pitched before the trade and he gave up like 10 runs to the Mariners.. The owner, Ron Fowler later blew up on the team (and Shields specifically) on the local radio station. It was quite comedic.
There are a few players on the current White Sox that dispute your argument. The most notable are Jose Quintana and Adam Eaton who have blossomed with the White Sox following trades. Quintana would be at the top of the Yankee rotation along with Masahiro Tanaka while the Diamondbacks might have found Eaton useful in RF.
Veteran players such as closer David Robertson, third baseman Todd Frazier, second baseman Brett Lawrie and LF Melky Cabrera have also held their own on the South Side in comparison to their production with former clubs. Pretty sure the Orioles could have used Miguel Gonzales in their rotation this past season as well.
Former Marlin southpaw Dan Jennings was also a nice pickup for the White Sox, especially this past season while 35 year old veteran Justin Morneau showed that he still might have some hits left in his bat following his comeback from elbow surgery.
Eh, does Jerry have you on the payroll? It’s that type of defense of this organization that will result in continued mediocrity. No accountability of the disgrace that has occurred for decades now. But please, let’s focus on Adam eaton (a cancer the Dbacks were and are thrilled to have jettisoned) and Brett freakin lawrie. Nevermind yet another sub .500 record, that’s not important. Just as long as there’s a few team friendly deals mixed in. Because that’s what’s really important…
That “cancer” was the second best right fielder in all of baseball behind only Mookie last year and on an EXTREMELY team friendly contract. I HIGHLY doubt anything he did in the AZ locker room was bad enough to make a team not want that kind of production at that cost. Just because another HORRIBLY run organization was “thrilled to have jettisoned” him doesn’t mean anything.
You can rip on Jerry and the organization all that you want (heck, I’ll agree with most of it), but they do deserve a ton of credit for the Eaton deal (trade and new contract) and a few others.
Also – Brett Lawrie was, is, and always will be garbage.
I’m not defending the White Sox organization, merely making a counterpoint to the original comment that insinuated formerly consistent and successful players completely implode immediately upon arriving in Chicago. You can make examples either way for every single club.
The reality of the recent struggles on the South Side since their last playoff appearance in 2008 have more to do with poor player development than with trades or free agent signings.
If the Padres are paying that much salary I wonder if the Braves would make a run at trying to get him. I read that they are ready to make a run at RA Dickey and I would much rather have James Sheilds for the next 2 years at that price. And I don’t think it would cost all that much in terms of prospects.
Can’t imagine Dickey costing that much
Looks like the Padres have to pay up now.
Not that I blame Shields, are there any cases of under-performing players opting out of contracts out of a sense of “honor”? As in, they recognized that they were not worth what they were being paid and chose not to unduly hamper their team’s payroll?
Honor and stupidity are two different things. Nobody with a brain is opting out of that much money.
Most don’t Opt-out they just retire. Michael Cuddyer & Adam Laroche are the last two that come to mind for different reasons. Cuddyer didn’t feel as though he was performing to his standards & decided to hang it up which got the mets off the hook for the rest of his contract. & Laroche had the situation with his son and the clubhouse issue which he decided to retire which also saved the sox’s money.
Most will retire instead of opting-out because on the surface it looks better to bow out with no intentions of playing anymore than to opt-out & have people thinking you still want to play. Shields is a bulldog & I can imagine that he doesn’t want to leave the game like this, I’d imagine he works his butt off in the offseason to put this previous year behind him. Guess we will just have to see.
From the story:
“The $31MM that the Padres included to facilitate the deal makes the White Sox’ remaining commitment to Shields a bit easier to stomach, as they’ll pay him $10MM in each of the next two seasons and will also be on the hook for the $2MM buyout of his 2019 option.”
Yeah, well, if all you care about here is the money part, yeah, that’s great.
But if you care about the fact that the White Sox are going to run him out there every fifth day for the next two years so they can “get their money’s worth”—especially once you realize the money was always going to come out of the White Sox’s pocket and never out of yours—wellllll, you might look at this a little differently.
I will say this: as both a Tigers fan and a Cubs season ticket holder, I approve this situation 100%.