Are Chicago White Sox shutting down Shields for rest of season?
What are the Chicago White Sox going to do with James Shields?
It's actually a two-part question.
Acquired from the San Diego Padres in a June 4 trade, Shields has been a bust. In 17 starts for the White Sox, the veteran right-hander is 3-10 with a 7.50 ERA.
Shields also has given up 26 home runs in 84 innings with the Sox. For the season, the 34-year-old pitcher is tied for first in the majors with 35 homers allowed.
While he can opt out of his contract at the end of the season, Shields is not stupid. He has two more years on the deal he signed with San Diego, and the Sox owe Shields $22 million over that stretch. The Padres are paying the remaining $30 million.
If they are convinced Shields is finished as a major-league starter, the White Sox might be forced to eat the contract.
As for the second part of the question - what to do with Shields the rest of this season - it might already be over.
In his last start, Saturday at Minnesota, Shields was removed early with back discomfort. He allowed 5 runs on 5 hits (3 home runs) and 4 walks in 2⅓ innings.
Before Monday's game against the Detroit Tigers, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Shields might be shut down the rest of the year.
"We're continuing to get treatment on that and pin down a little bit more if he's going to be able to go out there and it's not going to bother him." Ventura said. "You could (shut Shields down). There's part of it that you could feel that way.
"But, again, he's working hard to get everything healthy and feel good and be ready to go."
Shields struggled badly in June, August and his first start of September. But he did pitch a lot like his old self in July, posting a 1.78 ERA in 5 starts.
"It's probably pretty high," Ventura said when asked about Shields' frustration level. "A guy that has pitched this long and has done as well as he has, it can be pretty high. But he puts it behind him, he comes in, he works, he does all the things that you would expect a guy that's a pro to do.
"He doesn't come in and hide and not talk to guys and stay to himself. He's still working hard and he has the confidence to be able to overcome all of it."
If Shields is unable to return to the mound this season, the Sox can finish up with a rotation featuring Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon, Anthony Ranaudo and Miguel Gonzalez, who returns from the disabled list Tuesday night to start against the Tigers.
The White Sox also could give top pitching prospect Carson Fulmer a few starts down the stretch.
Fulmer was up and down as a reliever with the Sox in July and August, but he was optioned to Class AAA Charlotte to start. He pitched 11 scoreless innings in his final two outings with the Knights.