Mariners Trade James Paxton to Yankees

There have not been many Major League Baseball free agent signings so far during the winter. However, there has been a very big trade involving one of the best young pitchers in the game. The Seattle Mariners seem to be dismantling their current team and preparing to rebuild with younger and cheaper players. Therefore, they decided to part ways with left-handed starting pitcher James Paxton by trading him to the New York Yankees for a trio of prospects. Paxton tallied 208 strikeouts last season in only 160 innings of work. That strikeout total was good enough for ninth place in the American League.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has said several times since the season ended that his top priority was to upgrade the rotation for the 2019 season. They already resigned lefty starter CC Sabathia to a one-year deal. The trade for Paxton gives the Yankees a power arm that will definitely be a huge weapon in their attempt to dethrone the World Series champion Boston Red Sox. The one big problem with Paxton is his lack of durability. The 160 innings he tossed last season were a career high. It is true that starting pitchers who can go for 200 innings are becoming hard to find these days. However, the Yankees are certainly expecting Paxton to provide them with more than 160 innings in 2019.

Masahiro Tanaka and Luis Severino will also be a part of the Yankees starting rotation in 2019. Cashman is still on the lookout for an additional starting pitcher to round out the rotation. He also needs to find a shortstop to take over for Didi Gregorius until he returns from elbow surgery. Paxton said in an interview by SB Nation after the trade that he is very excited to be playing in New York. He loves the fact that he is now on a team that contends for the playoffs on an annual basis. He is anxious to take advantage of the opportunities that playing in New York will provide him with.

The Yankees are also expected to make a play for one of the big free agents who are currently available. Manny Machado is the player that has been linked to the Yankees the most frequently. However, signing outfielder Bryce Harper is also a possibility. It remains to be seen how much money the Yankees will spend. Owner Hal Steinbrenner has said that he wants to stay below the luxury tax threshold.