Chicago White Sox: Does James Shields Have Anything Left?

Another prolonged slump has the Chicago White Sox and their fans wondering how much is left in James Shields’ tank.

James Shields has established himself as one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball over the past ten seasons. It turned into a big payday from the San Diego Padres who later moved Shields to the Chicago White Sox. James Shields has struggled all season long looking nothing like the pitcher he once was. At 34-years-old, it’s fair to ask if he has anything left?

James Shields came up with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2006 and became a part of a very good rotation, featuring both Shields and David Price. James Shields spent the better part of seven years as part of the Rays team. He consistently kept his team in games and pitched well over two-hundred innings.

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Shields next stop was with the Kansas City Royals. He pitched for the Royals for two seasons picking up where he left off with Tampa Bay producing stat lines that kept his team in games and consistently ate innings. The Royals were happy with Shields but soon learned that, while he is a good pitcher, he was also not the great ace that they were looking for. Shields is a great 2nd or 3rd pitcher in a rotation. He is not that number one ace that you wanted to put toe-to-toe with Clayton Kershaw or whoever the best pitchers of any given year were.

James Shields hit free agency as one of the most sought after pitchers of the 2014 offseason. He agreed to terms with the San Diego Padres signing a large contract that most other teams believed to be a large overpay. Shields first season as a Padre was a struggle. While it wasn’t horrific, he did take a noticeable step in the wrong direction in 2015.

Which brings us to the current season. Shields started out the season in decent up-and-down fashion and was consistently struggling to place his pitches. When he could place them they were being hit an awful long way. The Chicago White Sox were fading in their division and needed some pitching help. Shields was traded from the Padres to the White Sox.

The move did nothing to help Shields as he has posted a 7.34 ERA in his tenure as a White Sox so far. With his recent struggles, fans are beginning to wonder if Shields has anything left?

James Shields is 34 years old and there is no questioning that his best years are behind him. This, however, is not the only time he struggled in his career. In 2010, he posted an earned run average well over five in his two-hundred plus innings of work. The following season he bounced back putting up a lot of career best numbers on his way to becoming in All-Star.

That is not to suggest that James Shields is suddenly going to become an All-Star again. Rather, that over the course of Shields’ career he has shown an ability to bounce back and regain form. While he is much older than he was in the 2010-11 seasons, he is still capable of regaining form and helping the White Sox next season.

Shields no longer will have the pressure of being that number one ace a lot of teams mistakenly thought him to be. He can sit in a rotation behind established ace Chris Sale and have the pressure taken off of him. While that is yet to help this season, with an offseason to learn to pitch without his former velocity or movement, Shields isn’t done just yet.

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If James Shields cannot solve his problems this offseason and bounce back at least to the pitcher he was his first season with the Padres, then his career may be over. I believe that James Shields isn’t done quite yet though as he should get at least another season to see if he is indeed anywhere near the pitcher he was was with the Tampa Bay Rays.

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