White Sox get Shields from Padres

The White Sox acquired veteran right-hander James Shields and cash for right-hander Erik Johnson and minor-league infielder Fernando Tatis Jr. on Saturday, a move made to shore up the White Sox’s bid to compete in the American League Central race.

Shields, 34, is 2-7 with a 4.28 ERA over 11 starts this season, his second with the Padres. Those numbers were inflated by his last start, when he allowed 10 runs over 22⁄3 innings against the Mariners.

He is an 11-year major-league veteran who has pitched more than 200 innings each season since 2007. He spent his first seven years with the Rays and then two with the Royals.

White Sox starting pitchers rank third in the American League with a 3.61 ERA, thanks in part to consistently outstanding starts from left-handers Chris Sale and Jose Quintana. But Shields could replace Mat Latos or Miguel Gonzalez in the rotation and provide a boost with his ability to eat innings.

Shields, who was scheduled to start Sunday for the Padres, has $58 million left on his contract, which includes the ability to opt out after this season. The White Sox will pay $27 million of that contract, $5 million this season and $10 million in 2017 and 2018 if he doesn’t opt out. The remaining $2 million is for a buyout on a team option in 2019.

The trade ends Johnson’s upand-down tenure with the White Sox, in which he went 7-6 with a 4.50 ERA over 18 starts. He was 2-1 with a 2.94 ERA in eight starts with Triple-A Charlotte this season.

Tatis Jr., the son of former major-league third baseman Fernando Tatis, was the No. 27 international prospect last season, according to MLB.com.