Rays send Shields, Davis to KC for OF Myers By Sports Network

Tampa Bay Rays starter James Shields pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning of a MLB American League baseball game in St. Petersburg, Florida, September 21, 2012. REUTERS/Steve Nesius

The Tampa Bay Rays traded pitchers James Shields, Wade Davis and a player to be named to the Kansas City Royals Sunday night in exchange for outfield prospect Wil Myers, pitchers Jake Odorizzi and Mike Montgomery and third baseman Patrick Leonard.

St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays traded pitchers James Shields, Wade Davis and a player to be named to the Kansas City Royals Sunday night in exchange for outfield prospect Wil Myers, pitchers Jake Odorizzi and Mike Montgomery and third baseman Patrick Leonard.

Shields, who will turn 31 this month, posted a 15-10 record with a 3.52 earned run average, 223 strikeouts and just 58 walks last season with the Rays. Over seven seasons in Tampa, Shields owns a career 87-73 mark and is the franchise’s all-time leader in wins, starts (217), innings pitched (1,454 2/3), strikeouts (1,250), complete games (19) and shutouts (eight).

Davis went 3-0 with a 2.43 ERA in 54 relief appearances for the Rays last season, his first out of the bullpen after compiling a career 4.22 ERA over 64 starts from 2009-11.

Both hurlers should bolster the Royals starting rotation, which includes veterans Jeremy Guthrie and Bruce Chen along with up-and-comer Danny Duffy.

Myers, who was selected by the Royals in the third round of the 2009 draft, heads to Tampa after spending three seasons in the Kansas City minor league system. The 22-year-old began the 2012 season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas and was called up to Triple-A Omaha on May 16.

In 99 games with the Triple-A club, Myers posted a robust .303 average with 24 home runs and 79 RBI. He was a mid and postseason All-Star selection in the Pacific Coast League and played for Team USA in the Futures game at Kauffman Stadium this past season.

Odorizzi, 22, made his major league debut in September last season and went 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two starts for the Royals, while Montgomery, 23, went a combined 5-12 with a 6.07 ERA last season at Double- and Triple-A.

Leonard, 20, made his professional debut in 2012 at Rookie-level Burlington, where he hit .251 with 14 home runs, 46 RBI and a .340 on-base percentage.