With their starting rotation reduced by injuries, the Tigers have been scouting a potential veteran replacement.
Shields, 37, went 7-16 with a 4.53 ERA in 34 games for the White Sox last season. He's not the All-Star he once was, but he's still one of the more durable pitchers in baseball.
The Indians, Rangers, Orioles and Yankees have also scouted him.
The interest on the part of the Tigers isn't all that surprising. The team has already lost starters Michael Fulmer and Matt Moore for the season, and Jordan Zimmermann is still at least a couple weeks away from returning from an elbow injury.
Shields logged over 200 innings last season for the White Sox, a number he has reached 10 times since his MLB debut in 2006. Per MLB.com, only one pitcher has accomplished that more often over that span -- Justin Verlander.
Money shouldn't be an issue in any potential deal.
If he signed with the Tigers and pitched well, he'd likely be dealt to a contender at the trade deadline.
As for the other big-name pitcher on the free agent market, Dallas Keuchel is not on the Tigers' radar. His asking price is too high, according to MLB.com.
Detroit is currently rolling with a four-man starting rotation of Matthew Boyd, Spencer Turnbull, Tyson Ross, Daniel Norris. Clearly, there's room for a guy like Shields.
“I still have a lot left in the tank," Shields said, via The Athletic. "Every scout I’ve thrown in front of, they’ve definitely been impressed, from what they told me, at least.”