Written by Katie Strang at ESPN.com
The Chicago White Sox have traded for starting pitcher James Shields, sending starter Erik Johnson and minor league shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. to the San Diego Padres.
The White Sox welcomed Shields in a tweet Saturday.
“We’re pleased to add a starter of James Shields’ caliber,” White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. “He has proven to be one of the most dependable and durable pitchers in the major leagues over his career.”
The White Sox are expected to pay between $27 million and $31 million of the remaining $58 million on Shields’ salary, a source told ESPN’s Jim Bowden. If the right-hander opts out of his contract after this season, the number would be less.
Shields had signed a four-year, $75 million deal signed with the Padres in February 2015. It was the largest free-agent contract in Padres history as one of several big-name players the team brought in before the 2015 season. But the roster overhaul fizzled, and the Padres finished three games worse last year than they did in 2014.
Shields, 34, is 2-7 with a 4.28 ERA in his second season with San Diego. He gave up 10 runs in 2 2/3 innings in his most recent start Tuesday. Padres executive chairman Ron Fowler called out Shields after the outing.
Shields will add depth and experience to the White Sox rotation, where he is expected to slot in after ace Chris Sale and Jose Quintana. The right-hander has been among the most durable pitchers in the majors in recent years, making at least 31 starts every season beginning in 2007.
“You have to have a lot of respect for him. It’s not easy,” Sale said. “You don’t just roll out of bed and throw 200 innings. For him, it seems like it’s that way. You know, it just takes stress off everybody else. It takes stress off the next starting pitcher. It takes stress off the bullpen, and he’s going to give us some quality innings as well. He’s still got a lot left in the tank, so we’re looking forward to that. Like I said, hopefully that’s the spark we need.”
Hahn said Shields will join the team in Chicago on Tuesday and expects him to be active by the beginning of the homestand. Shields was slated to make his next start Sunday, though it is not immediately clear when he will make his White Sox debut.
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