Rays set to pick up Shields' 2013 option
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The Rays have informed right-hander James Shields that they will exercise his
$10.25 million option for next season, according to a Tampa Bay Times report.
Shields, who turns 31 in December, surpassed 200 strikeouts for a second
straight season and surpassed 200 innings pitched for a sixth straight season
in 2012. He was 15-10 with a 3.52 ERA in 33 starts, striking out 223 while
walking 58.
Shields, David Price and the rest of the Rays' pitching staff carried the
team during a run that fell just short of the playoffs.
"We definitely have a good pitching staff," Shields said at the end of the
season. "We have to put everything together. You can't just pitch and not
score runs. You can't just not play defense. You've got to do it all.
"Over the last couple of years, we've pitched, we've had timely hitting,
we've had really good defense. This year, there were some points in the
season where we didn't have that. And that's kind of what cost us."
Friday is the last day for teams to officially exercise options.