Earlier this evening it was announced that the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners have agreed to terms on a deal to send LHP James Paxton to the Bronx. Jeff Passan was the first to report.
James Paxton comes with two more years of control through arbitration (2019 and 2020) and as projected by MLBTradeRumors.com, he is expected to make about $9 million dollars for this upcoming season.
Corey Brock (beat writer for the Mariners) was the first to report that the Yankees will be sending LHP Justus Sheffield (Yankees #1 MLB.com Prospect), OF Don Thompson-Williams and RHP Erik Swanson (Yankees #22).
James Paxton Snapshot:
Age: 30 Years Old
Years of Control: 2 Arbitration (2019 & 2020)
2018 Season Stats: 2.9 bWAR, 11-6 Record, 3.76 ERA, 160.1 IP (~5.2 IP/GS), 208-42 K-BB, 1.098 WHIP
Last 3 Years: 7.8 bWAR, 29-18 Record, 3.52 ERA, 139 IP/Year, 4.67 K/BB, 1.160 WHIP
Super Quick Thoughts:
2019 Yankees Projected Starting Rotation Looks to Be Finished Soon:
Less than two weeks ago, the Yankees inked a 1-Year/$8 Million deal with LHP CC Sabathia to stay in the Bronx for another season. After the deal was announced CC Sabathia stated that the 2019 season would be his last via a video posted on Twitter.
Acquiring James Paxton, alongside the new CC Sabathia contract, the Yankees now appear to have 4 of their 5 starting rotation spots filled for this upcoming season with Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, and the two aforementioned LHP pitchers.
Along with the expectations of Yankee fans and beat writers alike for them to also bring in LHP Patrick Corbin, it can almost be said that the Yankees have filled their rotation.
With the news that the Cleveland Indians have be open towards hearing deals about some of their starting pitchers- most importantly RHP Corey Kluber and RHP Carlos Carrasco- many people expected the Yankees to try and make a deal for one of those pitchers, but now that they have acquired James Paxton, it seems as though this could be an unnecessary move.
In addition, this move- provided the Yankees sign Patrick Corbin- probably takes the Yankees out of the equation on other free agent pitchers like: LHP Dallas Keuchel, RHP Nathan Eovaldi, LHP J.A. Happ, and RHP Charlie Morton, among others.
2. A Lot to Give?
When Brian Cashman became the GM of the Yankees in 1998, he didn’t make many deals with the Mariners (Only one deal in 2003 for Jeff Nelson), until 2012 (The Pineda-Montero Trade). Over the past 6 years the two teams have now agreed on 9 different trades.
While most of the moves have been smaller-type deals (click here for a list of all Yankees-Mariners deals) between the two franchises, when all is said and done, most deals seem to come up in favor of the Yankees. Looking back 5 years ago, a different trade between the M’s and Yanks looks to be very reminiscent of this current deal, with the Yankees sending a top prospect (Jesus Montero/Justus Sheffield) for a pitcher coming off an All-Star Year (Michael Pineda/James Paxton).
It is impossible to project who will ultimately end up winning this deal, but recent history has favored the Yankees.
(That being said, I am a big fan of Justus Sheffield, and I hope he has a solid MLB career…against every team but the Yankees.)
3. Next Moves to Make?
Sign Patrick Corbin & Bryce Harper.
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