Shields signs four-year extension

Scott Shields will be around much longer after he signed a four-year extension today. The Angels' press release is copied below.

SCOT SHIELDS AGREES TO A FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT
Reliever signed with Angels through 2010 season

Anaheim, CA- The Angels and Scot Shields Thursday agreed to terms on a
four-year contract through the 2010 season, in an announcement by club Vice
President and General Manager Bill Stoneman. The new agreement replaces the
one-year contract Shields signed in February of this year. With today's
announcement, the Angels currently have nine players signed through the 2008
season and five players inked through the 2009 campaign: Garret Anderson ('08),
Vladimir Guerrero ('08), Chone Figgins ('08), Robb Quinlan ('08), Kelvim Escobar
('09), John Lackey ('09), Justin Speier ('10), Scot Shields ('10) and Gary
Matthews Jr. ('11).

"Scot has been crucial to the success of our bullpen," said Stoneman. "He is
one of the most reliable and resilient relievers in the game and we are thrilled
to keep him in an Angel uniform for a while ".

Shields, 31, completed the 2006 season with 7-7 record, two saves and a 2.87 ERA
(87.2 IP - 28 ER) in 74 games with the Angels. He led the Major Leagues with 31
holds. Among AL leaders, he ranked fourth in games pitched and his 74 games
ranked as the second highest in a single season in club history, behind his own
mark of 78 games set in 2005.

Over the last three seasons (2004-06), Shields has pitched 284.2 innings, most
by any reliever in the Majors. His 291 strikeouts over the same spans ranks
fourth among Major League relievers. He enters the 2007 season with 31 career
relief wins, three shy of tying the Angels' career record of 34 by Dave LaRoche.

A native of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Shields owns a lifetime record of 35-29 with 14
saves and a 2.81 ERA in 293 games (14 starts).