After two years with the Yankees, James Paxton is returning to the Mariners for 2021. (Getty)
So Jerry Dipoto is not finished. Although the announcement does not arrive until next week, as the business is awaiting a physical examination, the Mariners and James Paxton are agreed on a one-year contract on a $ 8.5 million basis and bonuses that can take you to $ 10 million. After two years with the Yankees, Big Maple is back.
Mariners reunite with southpaw pitcher James Paxton on 1-year contract
Better late than never. Paxton had been on the Mariners’ radar since the off-season began. In late November, the 32-year-old from Ladner, BC launched a bullpen at ATI Fisioterapia in Bellevue in front of representatives from almost all MLB teams. Among the group: Jerry Dipoto, assistant general manager Justin Hollander and manager Scott Servais. The session went well and fulfilled its purpose with several teams expressing interest.
Not knowing what the chances of hitting the southpaw would be, the Mariners maintained regular contact with Paxton’s agent, Scott Boras, after the launch session with the deal materialized in recent days.
With the Yankees, Paxton shot well when healthy. In 2019, he presented an ERA of 3.82, going 15-6 with 186 eliminations in 150 2/3 entries launched. The year 2020 got off to a worrying start, however, with surprise news in early February that he would fail three to four months after undergoing surgery to repair a lumbar disc herniation. Paxton made just five starts after his return in July, before being paralyzed with a flexed strain in his left elbow. According to all reports, the injuries were left behind, with positive reports coming out of the ATI throwing session.
It is worth mentioning that Paxton has worked at ATI since 2017. The knowledge of the organization and the area contributed to the signing of the one-year contract, which is essentially a “proof” contract. If he shoots well, Paxton could benefit the Mariners in a post-season race attempt, or, like his former teammate “Big Three” Taijuan Walker last year, be negotiated on a candidate deadline.
(For now) Paxton now returns to the Mariners to participate in 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 going with a six-man rotation, a spot remains open and suddenly an interesting battle of position developed with two players who ended the season in the rotation, Justin Dunn and Nick Margevicius, fighting alongside Logan Gilbert, who Dipoto said he would have a chance to compete for a spot in spring training. This is a very different scenario than a year ago, when young players had the opportunity to get their feet wet. This year, they will have to earn it.
Paxton becomes the fourth free agent to sign a Major League contract for the Mariners this winter, joining Chris Flexen, Keynan Middleton, Kendall Graveman and Ken Giles.
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