The Tampa Bay Rays will not get to write off all of the remaining $21 million on James Shields' contract by sending him to Kansas City. A stipulation in the right-hander's six-year contract with the club states that the Rays have to give the soon-to-be 31-year-old Shields a parting gift of $750,000, according to FOX Sports' Jon Paul Morosi.
James Shields receives $750,000 bonus in trade
The large goodbye present for Shields only slightly decreases the payroll savings that Tampa Bay has achieved by making the two-for-four swap, with the club taking up to $27.85 million off the books for the next two seasons between Shields and fellow right-hander Wade Davis.
The Rays sent their two home-grown pitchers to Kansas City for four prospects: outfielder Wil Myers, left-hander Mike Montgomery, right-hander Jake Odorizzi and third baseman Patrick Leonard -- all of whom can be paid the league minimum if they make the big-league squad. Myers and Odorizzi are the best shots to make the Rays' roster in 2013, though Montgomery could earn a cup of coffee if he bounces back from his sub-par 2012 season.
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