Shields had been in his second season with the Padres. (Getty)
The Chicago White Sox were looking to strengthen their pitching, and have made a move with the San Diego Padres to acquire James Shields. Jon Heyman was the first to break the news.
Bob Nightengale, Ken Rosenthal, and AJ Cassavell all reported that Fernando Tatis Jr., shortstop, and Erik Johnson, pitcher, will be traded to the Padres. Rosenthal also said that the White Sox would be getting cash in the trade.
Beyond Chris Sale and Jose Quintana, White Sox have a struggling staff. Mid-rotation starters like Carlos Rodon and Mat Latos are working to keep their ERAs under 4, and the Sox hope a change of scenery can help Shields. Shields is 2-7 on the season, with a 4.28 ERA in 11 starts. Shields was in his second year of his contract – in February 2015, he signed a 4 year deal worth $75 million.
The White Sox are hoping to return to the prominence they had in April, when they were in first place in the AL Central and the talk of the American League. Currently they’re 29-26, a game and a half out of first, 2 and a half games out of a Wild Card slot, and 2-8 in their last 10 games. For the month of May, they went just 11-17.
Erik Johnson, 26, is 0-2 in the majors so far this year with a 6.92 ERA, but in AAA he’s gone 2-1 with a 2.94 ERA in 8 starts. Fernando Tatis Jr. was signed by Chicago in 2015 after being ranked in MLB.com’s Top 30 International Prospects list.