As expected, the Kansas City Royals have extended a $15.3 million qualifying offer to free-agent ace James Shields.
Monday’s move guarantees that the American League champions will receive a compensatory pick between the first and second rounds of the 2015 draft should the right-hander sign elsewhere. Shields will most likely turn down the qualifying offer, as The Associated Press noted that all 22 qualifying offer recipients from the past two seasons have turned them down to pursue free agency. Shields has until Nov. 10 to accept the offer.
Though CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman reported that the Royals will make a run at re-signing Shields, it’s a long shot that the team will be able renegotiate with him. Big-market teams, including the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, are expected to go after Shields, and they’ll be able to offer much larger contracts than the Royals can.
Shields enjoyed another stellar year with the Royals in 2014, going 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA. “Big Game James” imploded in the postseason, however, going 1-2 with a 6.12 ERA in five starts.
Photo via Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Sports Images
