James Shields will be a free agent next winter and hasn't helped his cause.

Shields has the highest ERA (3.93) in Kansas City's rotation and his lowest strikeout-per-nine innings rate (7.1) since 2009.

Since the beginning of May, Shields has a 4.93 ERA and batters are hitting .317 against him.

The Royals believe the issues are mechanical because there has been no dip in velocity.