Shields split 2006 between Triple-A and the majors, and as you know he's been very good-to-excellent for the Rays in 2007 and 2008. Shields has a great feel for pitching, mixing his fastball, cutter, changeup, and curveball very effectively. His strikeout rate declined this year, but otherwise he's been very consistent the last two seasons. In the minors he showed excellent K/BB ratios, but durability concerns were his main problem. That hasn't been an issue the last three seasons, and if he remains healthy he should be effective at his current level for several more years.

-Minor League Ball, John Sickels.