ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays have exercised their $7.5 million contract option for 2012 on pitcher James Shields.
The club also picked up a $3.3 million option for next season for reliever Kyle Farnsworth and declined a $3.2 million option on catcher Kelly Shoppach on Monday.
Shields went 16-12 with a 2.82 ERA and 225 strikeouts in 2011, leading the majors with 11 complete games, including four shutouts to help the Rays make the playoffs for the third time in four seasons. Farnsworth had a career-best 25 saves in his first season as a full-time closer.
Shoppach started 71 games and batted .176 with 11 homers and 22 RBIs.
