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KC Royals Lucky They Avoided Re-Signing James Shields

By Leigh Oleszczak

Jun 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher James Shields (25) reacts after giving up a three-run home run to Cleveland Indians designated hitter Mike Napoli (not pictured) during the first inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher James Shields (25) reacts after giving up a three-run home run to Cleveland Indians designated hitter Mike Napoli (not pictured) during the first inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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While KC Royals fans everywhere will find it difficult to bash former Kansas City pitcher James Shields, the team and the fans should be fortunate that they avoided bringing back the former ace.

Most Royals fans hate the Chicago White Sox. It’s kind of second nature here in Kansas City, so when news broke a few weeks ago that the Sox were trading for former Royals pitcher James Shields, it hit home with Royals fans.

Shields was acquired by the Kansas City Royals after the 2012 season and was brought in to start helping the team win games. Shields did just that, bringing his winning attitude and stellar pitching to Kauffman Stadium.

Shields helped the Royals earn a winning record in 2013, their first in a decade. The next year, he played a large part in getting them to the playoffs for the first time in 29 years, and to their first World Series since 1985.

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While Shields didn’t particularly pitch great during the postseason, he brought a winning attitude and a new confidence to this baseball team. It was tough watching him leave for San Diego, but Royals fans had pretty much come to terms with it by the end of the 2014 season.

It was evident after not even a season in San Diego that Shields wasn’t a fit there. The Padres were trying to unload Shields and his large contract to another team, but no one would take him.

This season, however, the White Sox bit and sent Erik Johnson and Fernando Tatis Jr. to the Padres for Shields’ services. It was a hard pill to swallow for the Royals at the time.

The thought of Shields coming back to Kansas City and pitching this poorly and possibly getting booed by the fans would have been heartbreaking.

Notice I said “at the time” because the KC Royals should be really glad they didn’t go after Shields.

Since his first start with Chicago on June 8th, Shields has given up 22 runs off of 24 hits in three games and has only pitched in 8.2 innings during that time. Not good.

Shields had managed to get his ERA to a respectable 3.06 after his second to last appearance for the Padres, but now it sits at a 6.28… only four starts later. Again, not good.

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White Sox fans made it clear how they felt about Shields after he struggled in his first game, booing him off the mound after he allowed seven runs in just two innings of work.

Not that the Royals had ever considered bringing Shields in this early on in the season, but it’s a very good thing they didn’t. The thought of Shields coming back to Kansas City and pitching this poorly and possibly getting booed by the fans would have been heartbreaking.

Here’s a guy who brought a losing team to the forefront of contention, and while yes, he does pitch for the White Sox, it’s difficult to watch him struggle this much. Shields will always be someone who I respect and want to do well, as long as he’s not facing the Kansas City Royals.

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Maybe he’s hurt or maybe he’s just “washed up”, but the KC Royals dodged a bullet here. I hope that Shields isn’t done pitching in the majors, but with his last four performances not going well, could his career be coming to an end?

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