The Tampa Bay Times reports that the Rays will pick up pitcher James Shields' option for the 2013 season. The 2012 option for the right-hander is worth $10.25 million.
Of course, there is still the chance that the Rays deal Shields before the start of the season. The club is at something of a crossroads, and could get a pretty nice package for an arm like Shields or ace David Price.
Shields was 15-10 in 2012 with a 3.52 ERA in 227 2/3 innings pitched. Shields has turned into a workhorse and is now a season removed from a 2011 campaign in which he tossed 11 complete games on his way to a 16-12 record and a 2.82 ERA that saw him finish third in American League Cy Young voting.
The 30-year-old (he'll be 31 on Opening Day) has also thrown at least 200 innings in each of his last six seasons.