Shields excited to join Chicago White Sox
In his last start, a May 31 outing at Seattle, James Shields lasted just 2⅔ innings and was pummeled by the Mariners for 10 runs on 8 hits (2 homers) and 4 walks.
At roughly the same time, Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn and Padres counterpart A.J. Preller were putting the finishing touches on a trade that would send Shields back to the American League.
The deal went down Saturday, with Shields and $31 million of his remaining $58 million salary going to the Sox in exchange for minor-leaguers Erik Johnson and Fernando Tatis Jr.
As for Shields' abysmal pitching line in what turned out to be his final start for San Diego, Hahn heard about it from chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.
"He wanted to make sure we were aware of it, and I assured him we were aware of it," Hahn said Tuesday before the White Sox opened a nine-game. "But ultimately he understood the track record of this player and how he fits in going forward."
This was a big trade for the Sox, but the buzz was muted by poor recent play. There also are concerns that at 34, Shields is on a decidedly downward career slope.
The first test for Shields comes Wednesday night, and it's going to be a challenging matchup against Max Scherzer and the Nationals.
"I'm excited to be back in the American League," Shields said. "I've played in the American League pretty much my whole career. I'm excited even though we're facing a National League team, which is kind of ironic.
"Emotional-wise, I'm not going to be too high or too low. If I was rookie barely in the league I would probably be a little more emotional. But I'm going to go out there and do exactly what I do, the same routine."
Even as an older pitcher, Shields routinely takes the ball and works deep into games. Despite going 2-7 with a 4.28 ERA for the Padres this season, the right-hander made it into the seventh inning five times in 11 starts.
Dating to 2007, Shields leads all major-league pitchers in games started (308) and innings pitched (2,055⅓).
"Stuff-wise, I'm fine," Shields said. "I think I'm good. Obviously my last game wasn't very good. I've had a few of those hiccups in my career, but I feel pretty good. Body-wise I feel great. I'm going to go out there and compete."
Shields pitched for current Cubs manager Joe Maddon in Tampa Bay from 2006-12, and the two developed a mutual respect.
"He's the guy that really set up the pitching mentality in Tampa Bay," Maddon said. "Tremendous work ethic. He set the work ethic among the starters. Purely competitively speaking, my God, he just never wants to come out of the game. He can beat anybody. He's got really good stuff."
The White Sox aren't expecting Shields to be great, but they'll gladly settle for really good.
"I'm here to do my job, and that's to pitch once every five days and post," said Shields, cousins with former White Sox center fielder Aaron Rowand. "I've been on a lot of teams where we've gotten a new guy; sometimes having a new face in the clubhouse will change the atmosphere a little bit, kind of change the mood a little bit.
"I've been around a lot of winning cultures, I've been in the playoffs quite a bit. I know how to win. I think this team has been great. Looking from afar, they look like they have a blast. They have fun, which I'm really excited about."