KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals completed a blockbuster trade on Sunday night, sending two of their top prospects to the Tampa Bay Rays for starting pitcher James Shields and reliever Wade Davis.
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Outfielder Wil Myers is one of the top prospects in all of baseball, and starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi was expected to compete for a spot in the Royals’ starting rotation this year. The Rays also get a pair of minor league prospects in pitcher Mike Montgomery and third baseman Patrick Leonard. As a bonus, the Royals will receive cash and a player to be named later.
By making this trade, the Royals immediately improve their starting rotation. Shields was an All-Star in 2011, and posted a 15-10 record with a 3.52 ERA in 2012.
Davis was previously a starter for the Rays, but was converted to a relief pitcher last season and finished 3-0 with a 2.43 ERA. He could very well start in Kansas City.
Myers had a .314 batting average and hit 37 home runs last season with the Royals’ Double-A and Triple-A affiliates. Odorizzi posted a record of 11-3 with a 2.93 ERA at Triple-A Omaha.
