Royals land Shields for prospects

The blockbuster winter continues. Less than one month after the whopping trade between the Blue Jays and Marlins, two more teams shook the baseball landscape Sunday night. Shortly after 11 p.m. ET, the Kansas City Royals announced a seven-player deal that could make them immediate American League Central contenders -- at the expense of their future. The Royals acquired right-handers James Shields and Wade Davis and a player to be named or cash from the Tampa Bay Rays, in return for super prospect Wil Myers, young starting pitchers Jake Odorizzi and Mike Montgomery, and third baseman Patrick Leonard. It was a desperate move for the Royals, but understandably so, given that the franchise has endured nine straight losing seasons. Kansas City general manager Dayton Moore has been on the job for more than six years, and this trade likely will define his tenure with the team for better or worse. With Shields, a 200-inning stalwart for the past six seasons, the Royals can argue that their rotation will give them a chance in the AL Central against the heavyweight Detroit Tigers. Detroit's staff is headlined by Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Doug Fister. Kansas City can counter with Shields, Jeremy Guthrie and Ervin Santana -- all of whom were acquired (or, in Guthrie's case, retained) this offseason. Davis' role will be one of the most-talked-about aspects of the trade. The Royals plan for him to be part of their rotation, likely in one of the final two spots with Bruce Chen, Luke Hochevar, Luis Mendoza or Felipe Paulino. But Kansas City paid a starter price for someone Tampa Bay viewed most recently as a reliever; Davis made all 54 of this year's appearances as a reliever, compiling a 2.43 ERA -- a significant improvement from his 4.45 mark as a starter in 2011.