Shields, Davis dealt to Royals

The Rays have sent two former Biscuits pitchers to the Kansas City Royals for four prospects.

James Shields and Wade Davis, both notable stars for Montgomery, were sent to Kansas City in exchange for outfielder Wil Myers, right-handed pitcher Jake Odorizzi, left-hander Mike Montgomery and third baseman Patrick Leonard. The Royals will also receive a player to be named.

Myers, who turns 22 Monday, was Baseball America's and USA Today's minor league player of the year after hitting a combined .314 with 37 home runs and 109 RBIs between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha.

Odorizzi, 22, made his major league debut in September and was Omaha's pitcher of the year. He joined the K.C. organization in the December 2010 trade that sent Zack Greinke to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Montgomery, 23, was a combined 5-12 with a 6.07 ERA between Double- and Triple-A this year. Leonard, 20, was an Appalachian League All-Star this season, his first as a professional.

Shields threw the first pitch in Biscuits history in 2004 and has made a Rays-record four Opening Day starts (2008-10, 12). Shields, who turns 31 this month, was 15-10 with a 3.52 ERA this year.

Davis, part of the Biscuits in 2007-08, was 3-0 with a 2.43 ERA in 54 relief appearances this year. He's 27.

Lobstein, Shuman, Lara snared in Rule 5

Two Biscuits and one would-have-been-a-Biscuit were taken in the Rule 5 draft today.

Left-handed pitcher Kyle Lobstein went in the major league phase to the New York Mets, who promptly traded him to the Detroit Tigers. Left-hander Braulio Lara, who finished this year at high-Class A Charlotte, went to the Miami Marlins. Both must stay in the major leagues for all of 2013 or the Rays can reclaim them.

Right-handed pitcher Scott Shuman went to the San Francisco Giants in the Triple-A phase.

Dietrich traded to Marlins for Escobar

Infielder Derek Dietrich, who finished this year with the Biscuits, has been traded by the Rays to the Miami Marlins. Tampa Bay adds major league shortstop Yunel Escobar.

Jamie Nelson moving to majors

<Strong>Jamie Nelson</strong>, the Rays' longtime minor league catching coordinator, is headed to the big leagues.

Tampa Bay has added him to its major league coaching staff as an assistant to hitting coach <strong>Derek Shelton</strong>. Nelson will also work with the Rays' catchers, but he won't be in uniform for games.