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."

EDGE Analysis

Shields did bounce back from a poor season in 2010 (5.18 ERA) to finish third in the 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 whose eyes are 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. He should be a trade piece for Chicago in 2017, when the organization is ready to hand over the starting rotation to its young hurlers at Triple-A.