SEATTLE – The Big Maple returns to the Mariners. James Paxton has agreed to negotiate a one-year deal with Seattle for the 2021 season pending a physical matter, a source told MLB.com on Saturday. The club did not confirm the agreement.
Paxton, who was drafted and spent six seasons with Seattle from 2013 to 18, will earn $ 8.5 million in salary, with performance incentives that could increase his deal to $ 10 million, based on the number of games he offers , a source told MLB.com. Mark Feinsand. This makes the deal a big win-win for both parties in many ways.
Here’s the reason for Paxton: the 32-year-old has struggled with significant injuries throughout his eight-year career, including a left-bending strain last season and back surgery. last February. With a one-year deal, he can re-establish his value and re-enter the market next season with the chance to get a longer and richer deal if he can show he is healthy and effective.
And for the Mariners: they get a big upside-down arm that could potentially eat away at the much-needed innings and bridge over to their younger arms, limiting workloads and boosting the burden of a 162-game season. They also bring in a veteran who has since gained a post-season experience while hitting for the Yankees, a valued veteran experience that could be big for their young core.
The Mariners watched Paxton all season, and they were among 20 clubs watching the left throw a bullpen session in Bellevue, Washington, around Thanksgiving, according to MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi. Paxton, who averaged 92.1 mph on his fast ball in 2020, compared to 95.4 mph in ’19, hit 94 mph that day. He also spotted the Blue Jays this off-season, and he has been linked with the Phillies, Cardinals and Mets.
Paxton would have to turn into the No. 2 spot in the Mariners turn, behind Marco Gonzales and ahead of Justus Sheffield, which was the valued return in the very trade Paxton sent to the Yanks in November 2018. Mariners’ current rebuild, as it was the first major trade by general manager Jerry Dipoto, has since been hailed as the “return” off-season.
After the Paxton domino fell, Seattle donated Edwin Díaz and Robinson Canó to the Mets in a big trailer that brings back Jarred Kelenic and Justin Dunn, No. 1 prospect. The office said there would be six works instead of the standard five. It is unclear whether the acquisition of Paxton will affect the plans, but probably not.
At his best if he’s healthy, Paxton was one of the top left-handed starters in the American league, with a career of 3.58 ERA and 114 ERA +. His peak came on May 8, 2018 when he threw a no-hitter for the Mariners against the Blue Jays in his native Canada.
But he never made more than 160 1/3 innings in a season or reached the 30th plateau, and he was limited to 20 or fewer starts in all three seasons, including just five in the shortened 2020 campaign. He was on the injured list for knee, back, chest, elbow and latissimus dorsi injuries dating back to ’14.
Therefore, Paxton’s bullpen session in November was significant. Left-handed Matthew Boyd of Tigers, a Seattle resident who worked with Paxton this season, recently told MLB Network Radio that “whoever gets him is going to steal.”
“And he’s pumping the ball now, too,” Boyd said. “He looks better than ever. We dive into a few things, break down fast balls and understand direction of rotation and all that. His ball just takes over. It’s fun to catch. … Whoever gets him, he gets a bait. ‘
Paxton represents the second major acquisition by Seattle this week, after the club agreed on Thursday with the nearer Ken Giles. Giles is recovering from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in October, which will keep him on the sidelines for the entire 2021. But Saturday’s move is much more for the moment, and that’s another sign that the Mariners are trying to step forward.