Royals acquire James Shields, Wade Davis from Rays for Wil Myers, prospects
KANSAS CITY, Mo. The Kansas City Royals have acquired starting pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis from the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Wil Myers and a package of minor league prospects.
The blockbuster deal announced late Sunday night is the Royals' most aggressive move yet under general manager Dayton Moore to shore up a starting rotation that has been abysmal for years. But doing so came at the cost of Myers, the minor leagues' top player last season, and a couple more top prospects.
The Rays also are getting right-hander Jake Odorizzi, who would have competed for a spot in the Royals' rotation this season, along with left-hander Mike Montgomery and third baseman Patrick Leonard. Kansas City also will receive a player to be named or cash.
Shields, 30, was 15-10 with a 3.52 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 223 strikeouts in 227 2/3 innings pitched last season for the Rays. He is only one year removed from finishing third in AL Cy Young voting, as he had a huge 2011 campaign, notes CBSSports.com's Matt Snyder.
Myers, 21, hit .314/.387/.600 with 37 homers, 109 RBI and 98 runs in 134 minor-league games last season (35 in Double-A, 99 in Triple-A), Snyder reports. He was Baseball America's minor league player of the year.