Yankees trade for James Paxton

[a700hitter]

Details to follow.

Edit:

The Yankees have struck a deal to acquire lefty James Paxton from the Mariners, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). Top pitching prospect Justus Sheffield is coming to Seattle in return, per Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times (Twitter link). Completing the return are outfielder Dom Thompson-Williams and righty Erik Swanson, per Corey Brock of The Athletic (via Twitter).
This is the first major move of the winter, bringing a top-shelf starter to a New York club that has long been rumored to be seeking to boost its rotation. Having already inked CC Sabathia earlier in the winter, the Yanks now appear unlikely to pursue more than one additional starter, though they’ll still have ample financial flexibility to go after any available pitchers.

[a700hitter]

The Yankees needed to address starting pitching which is their biggest need.

[Station 13]

M's got hosed. What an awful return.

[a700hitter]

M's got hosed. What an awful return.

Cashman is no fool.

[bkzwhitestrican]

The Yankees never seemed as high on Sheffield as all of the scouting reports. We'll see if this one comes back to bite them.

But for the 2019 season, Paxton is definitely a huge upgrade to the rotation. Hopefully he can stay healthy for a whole year. I don't think he's ever done that in the majors.

[jacksonianmarch]

Huge move. We deal off Sheffield and replace him with Paxton.

[a700hitter]

Paxton has never been durable. His career high in innings is 160 in 2018. He is 30 years old.

[jacksonianmarch]

No, he hasn’t been. He’s had all sorts of ailments. The hope is he can stay healthy. He’s a dominant left handed arm when he’s out there

[notin]

No, he hasn’t been. He’s had all sorts of ailments. The hope is he can stay healthy. He’s a dominant left handed arm when he’s out there

There seems to be a trend among Canadian pitchers that they have a significant history of arm troubles. I’ve read one important factor might be the shortened baseball season they experience growing up...

[bkzwhitestrican]

There seems to be a trend among Canadian pitchers that they have a significant history of arm troubles. I’ve read one important factor might be the shortened baseball season they experience growing up...

Must be the maple syrup diet. It has virtually no protein.

[notin]

Must be the maple syrup diet. It has virtually no protein.

That would also explain why UVM alum and Vermont native Kirk McCaskill had arm troubles throughout his career...

[Youk Of The Nation]

Paxton for a few minor leaguers? In the words of Aroldis Chapman's lawyer, you can't beat that.

[a700hitter]

Paxton for a few minor leaguers? In the words of Aroldis Chapman's lawyer, you can't beat that.

They are inching toward the cliff.

[moonslav59]

Two arb years left (est $8.5M in 2019).

Not bad at all.

[jacksonianmarch]

DTW had a great year topping out in High A, but he was 24 and way older than his competition.

I like Swanson and he may slot into their rotation as early as this year. But he’s a sinker slider guy with limited upside.

I loved Sheffield, but his command needed time to refine and that just wasn’t gonna happen in the majors. Plus, his small stature and high velocity makes me concerned he will be hurt.

Either way, an appropriate package for an ace level talent with top notch per inning production with injury concerns. Paxton immediately slots in at or near the top of the rotation and gives us a top 3 that rivals many teams in the game, especially if Severino can avoid the late season swoons of the last two seasons. Also, Paxton offers us a rare left handed power starter, which should help us against Boston, who surprisingly struggle vs lefties.

In terms of money, Paxton is projected to earn what Gray will earn. If we are successful in moving Gray for a package of prospects, we will essentially help to rebuild the farm while also trading two years of Paxton for one year of Gray.