James Shields and the 2017 Starting Staff

[ScootsMcGoots]

Heading into next season, the rotation currently looks like Quintana, Sale, Rodon, Shields, TBA (I deliberately put Q first, he should start opening day imo). Okay, so what do you do with Shields? If the front office wants to contend next year, there is no way they keep him. Do what do you do with him? His contract still has him under control for a couple years, and you aren't going to get any value for him. Should they release him and eat his contract? That means they need to find 2 starting pitchers. Maybe Gonzalez gets that 5th starter slot, or maybe 4th depending on who they pick up. Obviously, I think most of us would agree that the rotation should be the least of the off season concerns, but it will be interesting to see who they get to fill in that 5 hole... Because no way in hell is Shields coming back unless they go fill rebuild, which lbh isn't happening.

[greg775]

Release him. Eat the money (unless somebody agrees to take him off our hands and we can trade him). Don't let him pitch another inning.

[He Gawn]

I deliberately put Q first, he should start opening day imo

Statistics disagree.

[Jose Abreu]

Statistics disagree.

To be fair, there are many 2016 statistics that you can use to argue either side

[Lip Man 1]

The Sox won't be releasing him (yet) for two reasons first off:

 

1. He's owed a s*** load of money.

 

2. JR doesn't like to pay people that amount to NOT work (even if they suck).

 

Releasing him would be the largest amount ever eaten by the franchise if memory serves. Why do you think they hung on to Dunn two years longer before letting him go? (Answer: money owed...), or Danks (Answer: money owed)

 

The bottom line is short of a front office change, Shields isn't going anywhere unless he retires himself.

 

Also don't underestimate the fact that if Kenny Hahn releases him with all that money owed it's like sending up an exploding rocket signaling how bad of a judgment they have in these matters.

 

Mark

[Vance Law]

Why do you think they hung on to Dunn two years longer before letting him go? (Answer: money owed...)

 

Because Dunn was an acceptable DH over the final 3 years of the deal. .773 OPS, averaged 32 home runs per year, and was even better than that when they got around to platooning him. And they didn't let him go, they traded him.

[greg775]

The Sox won't be releasing him (yet) for two reasons first off:

 

1. He's owed a s*** load of money.

 

2. JR doesn't like to pay people that amount to NOT work (even if they suck).

 

Releasing him would be the largest amount ever eaten by the franchise if memory serves. Why do you think they hung on to Dunn two years longer before letting him go? (Answer: money owed...), or Danks (Answer: money owed)

 

The bottom line is short of a front office change, Shields isn't going anywhere unless he retires himself.

 

Also don't underestimate the fact that if Kenny Hahn releases him with all that money owed it's like sending up an exploding rocket signaling how bad of a judgment they have in these matters.

 

Mark

Well, if he insists on not retiring, our only option is to make him the new Albers. Hope he can get a few guys out now and then.

[spiderman]

How much is left on Shields deal after this season, and what do the White Sox owe?

[Chicago White Sox]

How much is left on Shields deal after this season, and what do the White Sox owe?

Roughly $40M and we owe $20M. Seems unlikely he would retire and pass up on that much money, but you never know if he keeps performing like this.

[caulfield12]

$22 million with the buyout.

[spiderman]

Roughly $40M and we owe $20M. Seems unlikely he would retire and pass up on that much money, but you never know if he keeps performing like this.

 

Does he have 2 years left after this season? Is that ~20M over 2 years or is another 1-2M still owed this season?

 

Tough to see the White Sox releasing him, but if they're truly all in, this is the type of move a team would make to get from under a pitcher who is clearly pitching on borrowed time. I still think it's more likely he'll be the #5 starter, and we're hear all about the adjustments that were made next spring training, but I wouldn't rule out that the White Sox would release him.

[Dick Allen]

What does the team gain by releasing him now and not seeing what he has in spring training?

[southsider2k5]

What does the team gain by releasing him now and not seeing what he has in spring training?

 

Nothing really.

[caulfield12]

Unless you wanted to place more pressure on Fulmer and Gonzalez to a lesser extent, not much at all...

[Hatchetman]

He's on the team for next year!

[COACH612]

He's on the team for next year!

 

 

Then the Sox better load up on baseballs since many of his pitches go into the bleachers.

[Lip Man 1]

Newspapers today reporting Sox are considering shutting Shields down for the rest of the season. Supposedly because of a back issue. That certainly could be a part of it as is the possibility that if they keep pitching him he could lose 20 games this year.

 

Mark

[Dick Allen]

Newspapers today reporting Sox are considering shutting Shields down for the rest of the season. Supposedly because of a back issue. That certainly could be a part of it as is the possibility that if they keep pitching him he could lose 20 games this year.

 

Mark

Chris Archer might lose 20 games and lead the league in strikeouts. If he had 19 losses would they shut him down?

 

As for Shields, it would be nice if he could have a start or 2 and look decent before the winter. But shutting him down makes sense too, as he is just embarrassing himself at this point.

[LittleHurt05]

Newspapers today reporting Sox are considering shutting Shields down for the rest of the season. Supposedly because of a back issue. That certainly could be a part of it as is the possibility that if they keep pitching him he could lose 20 games this year.

 

Mark

 

That's a bummer. Shields losing 20 games is one of the few things left to root for this season. Keep throwing him out there.

[YouCanPutItOnTheBoardYES!]

Shields is toast, but maybe giving him an extra month to rest will rejuvenate his arm a bit. At least that's what I'm hoping for.

[shago]

What does the team gain by releasing him now and not seeing what he has in spring training?

... or in the pen

[elrockinMT]

Shields with apparent back problems. Is this a possible reason for such a bad season save for a month or so?

[SCCWS]

Shields with apparent back problems. Is this a possible reason for such a bad season save for a month or so?

 

Sad because he had some solid years in Tampa. Maybe he left his fastball there.........

 

"Maybe Shields’ back really is bothering him, but this is what it would sound like even if he were 100 percent, because his South Side tenure has been the worst run in the history of White Sox starting pitching. He has no precedents when it comes to ERA (7.50), ERA+ (54) or home run rate (2.8 per nine innings), all of which are easily the worst in franchise history for a guy with at least 80 innings. Throw in a realistic bid at 20 losses, and further starts would be inhumane — more so for the fans, but for Shields, too, I guess.

 

It looks more like a mercy flush than an injury, but those aren’t mutually exclusive outcomes, and it’s all the same in the end, anyway."

 

 

 

http://www.southsidesox.com/2016/9/6/12812...ember-auditions

 

[Balta1701]

@MLBBruceLevine

White Sox starter James Shields declared himself healthy and ready to pitch Saturday. Shields had back discomfort and missed a start

 

@scottmerkin

Shields' back checked out ok. He is on target to start Saturday. So my weekend guess would be: Rodon, Shields, Sale

[elrockinMT]

I have always thought Shields was hurt. The latest with his back problems bears that out. If he can get healthy he may be a good.4th or 5th starter