DETROIT -- Trade rumors of James Shields to the White Sox picked up steam again on Saturday, with MLB Network's Jon Heyman tweeting that the two sides had agreed on the principals with only details to go. The White Sox had no comment at this point.
Shields, 34, is scheduled to start Sunday night in San Diego against the Rockies, so there appears to be incentive to get the deal done before he takes the mound. The right-hander is coming of a dreadful 2 2/3 innings performance against the Mariners on May 31, when he allowed 10 runs on eight hits, with one strikeout and four walks.
But Shields is believed to be a better fit on a team in contention, which is the case for the White Sox in the American League Central. Shields has nine straight seasons for at least 200 innings pitched, 30 starts and double-digit victories.
He makes sense for a rotation that entered Saturday's contest with a 0-5 record and 4.40 ERA over their last 10 games. Chris Sale and Jose Quintana stand as bona fide aces at the top of the starting five, but Carlos Rodon is battling through the ups and downs of his first year as a starter, while Mat Latos has struggled after allowing one earned run on six hits in 18 1/3 innings.
Adding Shields also would help the White Sox bullpen based on his durability within games over the past decade. With approximately $58 million owed to Shields through 2018, a total that includes a $2 million buyout off of a $16 million team option for '19 as well as a potential opt out after '16, the money part of the deal as well as the talent return could get tricky. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Padres are targeting 17-year-old shortstop prospect Fernando Tatis Jr.
The White Sox are absolutely in a win-now mode, but don't intend to mortgage their future in terms of trading away top prospects such as shortstop Tim Anderson or right-handed pitcher Carson Fulmer. They are definitely looking to enhance their chances for October baseball in a division race that looks as if it will go down to the final weeks.
"There is a strong temptation when you're not in between the white lines or in the dugout to try to do something to have a greater impact between 7 and 10 each night," said White Sox general manager Rick Hahn earlier this week. "And there's always that temptation to do something to improve your chances to win."
Scott Merkin has covered the White Sox for MLB.com since 2003. Read his blog, Merk's Works, follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin, on Facebook and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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