Chicago White Sox Acquire James Shields from Padres
By Ron Juckett
After a lengthy negotiation, the Chicago White Sox and San Diego Padres agreed to terms sending James Shields to the midwest for prospects.
The Chicago White Sox acquired starting pitcher James Shields Saturday from the San Diego Padres for Fernando Tatis Jr and right-handed pitcher Erik Johnson.
San Diego will send a large chunk of cash to help off-set the remaining two years on Shields contract, $30 million. Because of the money, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred must sign off on the deal.
Shields spent a disappointing year and change with the Padres. Pitching half his games at roomy Petco Park, he had a 13-7 record last year with a high ERA of 3.91. This year, his record is 2-7 with an ERA of 4.28. His adjusted ERA+ is 90 or ten percent lower than league average. It was Shields who started the 16-4 blowout loss to the Seattle Mariners prompting owner Ron Fowler to call his team “miserable failures” in a radio interview that night.
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In return, the White Sox send slick fielding infielder Fernando Tatis Jr. Tatis, whose father was a Major Leaguer, was signed last year as an international free agent out of Venezuela. MLB.com ranked him at No. 27 on their Top 30 International Prospects last year.
The Padres also receive Johnson, a right-handed starter. At 26, Johnson has bounced back and forth between the ChiSox and Triple-A Charlotte. For the Charlotte Knights in eight starts, Johnson is 2-1 with a 2.94 ERA. In 49 innings, he has a WHIP of 1.245 and fanned 35, walking 17. His two starts with Chicago were not successful. Losing both games, his ERA is 6.94 while his FIP is 8.35.
Signed as a free agent from the Kansas City Royals after their American League Championship in 2014, the Padres were hoping Shields—with his nickname of “Big Game James”—would help lead their young starting staff in the hunt for a wild card spot. Instead, he leaves Southern California with a chip on his shoulder as the scapegoat for a lost season.
The White Sox hope Shields familiarity with AL Central foes will help stop their slide to .500. After a hot 17-11 April, the Sox backtracked to a 11-17 May. With Chris Sale and Jose Quintana anchoring the rotation, Shields gives Chicago the extra depth needed as they fight a four-way race for the division crown.
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Tatis Jr. has yet to play an official minor league game while Johnson is not yet ready to start full time in the Majors. With the money sent by the Padres, on paper the White Sox got the better of the deal.