Shields threw three scoreless innings Thursday against the Dodgers. He finished with no hits, five punch-outs, and 27 strikes on 39 pitches. Shields was dialed in, throwing first-pitch strikes to all nine batters he faced. His time on the mound went according to plan as the Padres aimed to have him throw three innings and between 45 and 50 pitches. This was Shields' first multi-inning outing of the spring.

Shields won't appear in San Diego's first three spring-training games, Dennis Lin of the Union-Tribunereports. This move is merely cautionary and isn't injury-related. According to Lin, Shields is being brought along a little bit slower than his fellow pitchers because he pitched deep into October. Shields is a 33-year-old who has thrown 227+ innings in each of the last four seasons, so it's not a huge surprise that he's on a less taxing program to start camp.

Shields came to terms Monday with the Padres on a four-year contract worth around $75 million, ESPN.com reports. After a long wait, the top pitcher on the free-agent market will ink a deal with the Padres, capping an active offseason for the squad. Shields immediately slots in as the Padres' staff ace, and should compensate for an expected dropoff in skill by pitching in the favorable confines of Petco Park. Perhaps more importantly, Shields, who has covered an MLB-high 932.2 innings over the last four seasons, adds durability to a Padres pitching corps that has been ravaged by the injury bug in recent years.

The Royals officially extended Shields a one-year, $15.3 million qualifying offer Monday. This was merely a formality, as the Royals were never going to just let Shields walk without receiving a draft pick in return. Although Shields struggled in the postseason to the tune of a 6.12 ERA, he went 14-8 during the regular season with a 3.21 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 180 strikeouts over 227 frames, his eighth straight season reaching the 200-inning threshold. The Royals have expressed interest in re-signing the 32-year-old right-hander, but Shields will turn down the qualifying offer and the expectation is that he'll end up signing elsewhere.

Shields will start Game 5, if the Royals can win at least one game before then, the Los Angeles Times' Bill Shaikin reports. Shields was chased early in Game 1, and couldn't come close to matching the Giants' ace, Madison Bumgarner, who was outstanding. There was some buzz on Twitter that manager Ned Yost would be wise to go with Danny Duffy in Game 5, given how lackluster Shields has been in the postseason, and how his velocity has dipped slightly, but the Royals' manager will entrust a potential Game 5 to Shields.

Shields will start Game 1 of the World Series against the Giants on Tuesday, Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star reports. The Royals only needed Shields once during the Championship Series, so he'll be very well rested when he takes the mound Tuesday. While Shields has a 5.63 ERA in 16 postseason innings thus far, he had a 2.31 ERA in September and his lone shutout during the regular season was a four-hitter against San Francisco back on Aug. 9.

Shields could start Game 4 of the ALCS on Wednesday, the Kansas City Star's Andy McCullough reports. Game 3 was pushed from Monday to Tuesday, which means either Shields or Jason Vargas could pitch Wednesday without being on short rest. However, manager Ned Yost said he will debate giving Shields an extra day's rest and saving him for a potential Game 5.

Shields will start Game 1 of the ALCS on Friday, the Kansas City Star's Andy McCullough reports. He didn't have his best stuff Sunday, but was able to pitch well enough to help the Royals pull off an improbably sweep over the Angels. It's no surprise he'll be taking the ball in Game 1 against the Orioles, as he'll be on regular rest.

Shields will start the wild-card game against the Athletics, Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star reports. Shields was expected to start the game for the Royals, and that will be the case. He will face Jon Lester on Tuesday in Kansas City for the chance to move into the ALDS against the Angels. He owns a 14-8 record with a 3.41 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 180 strikeouts over 227 innings heading into the postseason.

Shields allowed three runs on five hits and two walks in six innings Thursday against the White Sox to wrap up his regular season. With this no-decision, Shields finishes 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.18 WHIP, although his performance this year was much spottier than those numbers make it sound. Nonetheless, the Royals will be leaning on him in the playoffs, assuming they hold onto their wild-card spot.