SEATTLE – The Big Maple returns to the Mariners. James Paxton has agreed a one-year deal with Seattle for the 2021 season pending a physical contract, a source told MLB.com on Saturday. The club has not confirmed the deal.
Paxton, who was selected for and spent six seasons with Seattle from 2013 to 18, will earn $ 8.5 million in salary, with performance incentives that could bring his deal to $ 10 million depending on the number of games he plays. spear, a source told MLB.com Mark Feinsand. This makes the deal a big plus for both parties in many ways.
That’s why, for Paxton: for all his accolades as a top-tier starter, the 32-year-old has battled major injuries over his eight-year career, including a left flexor strain last season and surgery on back last February. A one-year deal allows you to restore your value and re-enter the market next low season with the possibility of hiring a longer, richer deal if you can prove it is healthy and effective.
And for sailors: they acquire a big upside-down arm that can eat some much-needed entrees and connect with their younger arms, which will have workload limitations and back-up loads up to a season of 162 games. They also incorporate a veteran who has since gained postseason experience while pitching for the Yankees, a valuable veteran experience that could be huge for his young core.
The Mariners have had their eyes set on Paxton throughout the offseason, and were among the 20 clubs that saw the Left throwing a bullfight in Bellevue, Washington, around Thanksgiving, according to Jon Paul Morosi, of MLB.com. Paxton, who averaged 92.1 mph on his fast ball in 2020, below 95.4 mph on the 19th, hit 94 mph that day. He was also interested in the low season of the Blue Jays and was linked with the Phillies, Cardinals and Mets.
Paxton should be ranked No. 2 in the sailors’ rotation, behind Marco Gonzales and ahead of Justus Sheffield, which was the prized return of the same trade that sent Paxton to the Yanks in November 2018. This deal caused in many ways The current reconstruction of the sailors, as it was the first major trade of general manager Jerry Dipoto in what has since been called “back season.”
After the fall of the Domino Paxton, Seattle handed out Edwin Diaz and Robinson Cannon to the Mets in a blockbuster that brought back No. 1 prospect Jarred Kelenic and Justin Dunn, who will enter the camp competing for a back seat in the Seattle rotation, that the Office front has said it will have six launchers instead of the standard five. It’s unclear whether the acquisition of Paxton will affect those plans, but it likely won’t.
At his best when he’s healthy, Paxton has been one of the top starters for American League leftists, with a career of 3.58 ERA and 114 ERA +. His high point came on May 8, 2018, when he scored a goal for the Mariners against the Blue Jays in their homeland of Canada.
But he has never pitched more than 160 1/3 innings in a season or reached the plateau of 30 starts and limited himself to 20 or fewer starts in all three seasons except three, including only five in the campaign. 2020 reduced. He has been on the list of injuries from injuries to his knee, back, chest, elbow and dorsal latis that date back to 14.
That’s why Paxton’s bull session in November was significant. Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd, a Seattle native who has been working with Paxton this offseason, recently told MLB Network Radio that “whoever gets it will steal.”
“And he’s also pumping the ball right now,” Boyd said. “She looks better than she has ever had. We delve into a few things, breaking the balls fast and understanding the direction of the spin and all that. His ball takes off. It’s fun to catch. … Whoever gets it, gets an ace “.
Paxton represents Seattle’s second significant acquisition this week, after the club agreed to pacts with nearest Ken Giles on Thursday. Giles is recovering from Tommy John’s surgery he underwent in October, which will keep him out of the game throughout 2021. But Saturday’s play is much longer for now, and is one more sign that the sailors try to take a step forward.