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White Sox's James Shields: Moving forward

Shields recognizes that he pitched poorly in 22 starts with the White Sox last season, but maintains confidence that be can bounce back in 2017. "That's not the first time I've had a rough season," Shields said. "I've been in the game a long time, and I know how to combat that. I worked real hard in the offseason, worked on some things in the gym, and I'm ready to go."

Analysis:

Shields did bounce back from a poor season in 2010 (5.18 ERA) to finish third in the AL Cy Young voting in 2011 (2.82 ERA, 11 CG, 249 IP), but he was a 29-year-old lad then. Now, the right-hander is seeking to bounce back at 35 for a team looking a couple years down the road. Shields has been a durable starter over his career, averaging 33 starts and 217 innings the last nine seasons, and there's value in taking the ball every fifth day and giving a team 200 innings. He could make an attractive trade piece for some contending team this season, when the White Sox are ready to hand over the starting rotation to their younger hurlers.

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