After two years with the Yankees, James Paxton returns to the Mariners for 2021. (Getty)
So Jerry Dipoto was not finished. While the announcement won’t arrive until next week, as the deal is pending a physical deal, Sailors and James Paxton agree on a one-year contract with a base of 8, $ 5 million and bonuses that could bring it to $ 10 million. After two years with the Yankees, the Big Maple is back.
The Mariners met with left-handed pitcher James Paxton in a one-year deal
Better late than never. Paxton had been on the Mariners’ radar since the start of the offseason. In late November, the 32-year-old from Ladner, BC, threw a bullring at ATI Physical Therapy in Bellevue in front of representatives from almost every MLB team. Among the group: Jerry Dipoto, Deputy General Manager Justin Hollander and Manager Scott Servais. The session went well and served its purpose with several teams showing interest.
Unaware of their chances of landing the left-hander, the Mariners maintained regular contact with Paxton agent Scott Boras after the launch session and the deal was joined only by the last two days.
With the Yankees, Paxton was fine when he was healthy. In 2019 he scored an ERA of 3.82 while going from 15 to 6 with 186 attacks in 150 2/3 pitches. However, 2020 began with concern, with the surprise news in early February missing three to four months after being operated on to repair a lumbar disc herniation. Paxton started just five outings after his return in July before being turned off with a flexor strain on his left elbow. According to all accounts, the injuries have been left behind with positive reports coming out of the launch session at ATI.
It is worth noting that Paxton has been working at ATI since 2017. Familiarity with the organization and the area played an important role in signing the one-year contract, which is basically a “prove it” contract. If he throws well, Paxton could benefit the Mariners in a postseason race attempt or, like his former “Big Three” teammate Taijuan Walker last year, be changed on the deadline to a contender.
(For now) Paxton returns to the Mariners to join a rotation that will include one of the players for whom he was traded, Justus Sheffield, as well as Marco Gonzales, Yusei Kikuchi and Chris Flexen.
With the Mariners with a six-man rotation, a spot remains open and suddenly an interesting battle for position has developed with two players who finished the season in the rotation, Justin Dunn and Nick Margevicius, fighting Logan Gilbert, which Dipoto has said he would have a chance to compete for a place in the spring workouts. This is a pretty different picture from a year ago, when young players had a chance to get their feet wet. This year they will have to win it.
Paxton becomes the fourth free agent signed by a Major League deal by the Mariners this winter, joining Chris Flexen, Keynan Middleton, Kendall Graveman and Ken Giles.
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