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Report: Royals not optimistic about re-signing James Shields

Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

When James Shields takes the mound at Kauffman Stadium for Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday, it might be his final start as a member of the Kansas City Royals.

Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reports that although the club will make a legitimate effort to keep Shields in Kansas City, it is not confident the right-hander will re-sign.

From Martino:

According to major league sources, although the team will make a genuine effort to re-sign him, it is not hopeful, expecting a rival like the Red Sox to offer four or five years. It is difficult to imagine the Royals matching such an offer.

The Royals acquired Shields from Tampa Bay in December 2012 in a seven-player trade that netted the Rays top prospect Wil Myers. With just two years remaining on Shields's deal at the time of the trade, the Royals' gamble paid off.

Shields threw a major-league-leading 228 2/3 innings in 2013 before reaching the 200-inning mark again this year for the eighth consecutive season. He is 27-17 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over 68 starts with the Royals, helping them reach their first World Series since 1985.

The 32-year-old veteran - who has never landed on the disabled list during his nine-year major-league career - stands to benefit from a competitive starting pitching market this winter, which includes hurlers Max Scherzer and Jon Lester. 

Shields, entering free agency for the first time in his career, made $12 million this season in his third and final club option year.

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