KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Royals exercised their $13.5 million option on right-hander James Shields on Thursday after he anchored one of the leagues best starting rotations last season. Shields, acquired last off-season in a trade from Tampa Bay, went 13-9 with a 3.15 ERA and an AL-leading 228 2-3 innings. Shields was especially strong after the All-Star break, going 9-3 with a 3.06 ERA to help the Royals get into playoff contention. Kansas City went 43-27 after the break to finish 86-76, its best record since 1989. "The second half, we pretty much figured it out -- figured out how to win and what it takes on a daily basis," Shields said. "I think going into next spring training, we all have that good frame of mind, that good attitude, and hopefully well have a good season next year." The decision Thursday to exercise Shields option was mostly a formality. The Royals sent top prospect Wil Myers and a package of other minor leagues to the Rays to acquire him, and they werent about to let him go after just one season in their rotation. Especially the way he pitched this season, giving the Royals the kind of bona fide ace that they havent had since Zack Greinke was plying his trade a few years ago. "I feel good about it. I feel like I pitched well for them last year," Shields said. "Im just excited to be back and be a Royal and have a good season next year." Shields, who earlier Thursday won the Joe Burke Special Achievement Awarded presented by the Kansas City chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America, said he hasnt discussed a new contract with Royals general manager Dayton Moore. He did say he was open to remaining in Kansas City beyond next season. "When that times comes, Ill definitely be focused on it," Shields said. "The one thing I do know is I love the city. The organization is great. Ive been here for one year and weve made tremendous strides. Their willingness to want to win is what intrigues me." In the meantime, Shields just might become the Royals best recruiter. Ervin Santana and Bruce Chen, who both pitched well this past season, became free agents on Thursday, and Shields said that he will stay in touch with them through text messages. Santana in particular figures to be among the most coveted starters on the free-agent market after going 9-10 with a career-best 3.24 ERA. He threw 211 innings this season. "You have to understand the business of the game," Shields said, "but we would love to have them back. Bruce brings veteran leadership, Magic brings veteran leadership, and both of those guys had phenomenal years. Magic was lights-out. We counted on him every five days." The Royals are also in need of help in right field and at second base, so they might be reluctant to give Santana the kind of money that hell demand on the open market. They also have several promising arms in the minor leagues, including flamethrower Yordano Ventura and youngster Kyle Zimmer, who expect to compete for a rotation spot in spring training. "Its been amazing, just the transformation, how this organization has been working the last four or five years," Shields said. "Just to see all the guys that went through the system and how they did this year, and the year we had, was truly amazing." Custom Browns Jerseys . Over the course of his career Glenn is 79-71-1 in 151 starts for a .526 career winning percentage. Since becoming a Stampeder, he has elevated his play and raised his stock around the league. Baker Mayfield Browns Jersey .ca! There is plenty of blame to be shared as a result of the most recent NHL player (Pittsburghs Brooks Orpik) to be evacuated from the ice on a stretcher following an ugly incident Saturday night in Boston. http://www.footballbrownsnflprostore.com...s-Elite-Jersey/. Charlottetown scored four times in the third period en route to a 5-2 win over the defending champion Halifax Mooseheads on Friday. Damarious Randall Jersey . Hes just beginning to get similar results. The right-hander struggled after winning the honour in 2008 and 2009, but a retooling of his game has begun to pay off and has the San Francisco Giants thinking about the Lincecum of old. Nick Chubb Browns Jersey .C. Lions. The clubs former starting quarterback, assistant and head coach returned Thursday as its receivers coach.CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bulls were open all over the floor, so Joakim Noah kept collecting assists. Jumpers for Jimmy Butler and Kirk Hinrich. A dunk for Taj Gibson, another jumper for Butler, and on and on it went. The All-Star centre put on quite a show. Noah had 14 assists in his fifth career triple-double, leading the streaking Bulls to a 109-90 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday. "Its really all my teammates," he said. "I think were getting better every game." Noah also had 13 points and 12 rebounds in his second triple-double of the season, but it was his deft passing that really stood out. It was the most assists by an NBA centre since at least the 1985-86 season and a franchise record for his position. "What can you say? He is playing MVP basketball," Gibson said. "He is doing everything in all facets of the game." Chicago had seven players score in double figures and set a franchise record by committing only three turnovers in its ninth win in the last 10 games. The Bulls also reached 100 points for the fourth consecutive game for the first time since Oct. 30-Nov. 5, 2010. D.J. Augustin had 21 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter as Chicago (33-26) improved to 21-8 since Jan. 1 and a season-high seven games above .500 overall. Butler scored 19 points and Carlos Boozer had 14. "Weve hit a stretch where we have guys that are healthy playing that I think they know what to expect from each other," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "I think theyre playing to their strengths." While the Bulls are galloping through the weak Eastern Conference, the Knicks are floundering. Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points and Tyson Chandler had 22 rebounds, but New York dropped its sixth consecutive game. The Knicks (21-39) are just 6-16 since Jan. 14. "Its embarrassing," Anthony said. "Its frustrating and its embarrassing." Swingman Iman Shumpert had three points on 1-for-6 shooting in his return to the lineup. He missed five games after he sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during New Yorks 98-91 victory over New Orleans on Feb. 19. Noah rolled his right ankle at the beginning of the second half and got it re-taped before comingg back in at the start of the fourth quarter.dddddddddddd He heard more chants of "M-V-P! M-V-P!" when he went 1 for 2 at the line to make it 89-70 with 9:26 to go. There were more loud cheers when Jimmer Fredette checked in with 3:08 left after joining the Bulls earlier in the day. The sharp-shooting guard drilled a long jumper on his first shot, making it 107-83 with 2:16 remaining. Fredette, the 10th overall pick in the 2011 draft, was bought out by Sacramento on Thursday and cleared waivers on Saturday. His contract with the Bulls covers the rest of the season. "It was great. I mean, these guys did a great job the whole game and got a big lead and I was able to get into the game," Fredette said. Led by Noah, the Bulls jumped all over the Knicks right at the start. He capped Chicagos opening 16-1 run with a driving layup and rebound tip-in. It just kept getting worse for New York, which shot 32 per cent from the field in the first quarter. Butler scored 10 points and also found Gibson for a big dunk as Chicago jumped to a 37-16 lead, setting a season high for points for the opening period. "They came out with more energy than we did, took advantage of us," Chandler said. "On the defensive end, backdoor cuts that pretty much changed the game." The lead grew to 25 early in the second before Anthony and Amare Stoudemire started to heat up. Anthony made a nice pass to Stoudemire for a reverse layup that got New York within nine with 3:33 to go. Anthony drove the baseline for a smooth jam, but Noah found Butler for a jumper that lifted Chicago to a 59-48 halftime lead. Noah had 11 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds at the break. "You cant come on the road and start like that and expect to win," Knicks coach Mike Woodson said. NOTES: Anthony has said he plans to become a free agent this summer, and there was at least one sign calling on him to come to Chicago. "I cant see next year," Anthony said. "I cant even see tomorrow at this point." ... Stoudemire and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 14 points apiece for New York. ... The Bulls improved to 14-2 this season when they score 100 or more points. ... The Bulls and Knicks have one more scheduled meeting, on April 13 in New York. 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