After two years with the Yankees, James Paxton is returning to the Mariners for 2021. (Getty)
So Jerry Dipoto wasn’t done yet. While the announcement won’t come until next week, as the deal is pending a physical deal, the Mariners and James Paxton agree on a one-year contract with a $ 8.5 million base and bonuses that will take it to $ 10. million. After two years with the Yankees, the Big Maple is back.
Mariners reunite with lefthanded pitcher James Paxton after 1-year deal
Better late than never. Paxton was on the Mariners’ radar from the start of the off-season. In late November, the 32-year-old from Ladner, BC threw a bullpen to ATI Physical Therapy in Bellevue in front of representatives from nearly every team in MLB. Among the group: Jerry Dipoto, assistant general manager Justin Hollander and manager Scott Servais. The session went well and served its purpose with a number of teams showing interest.
Not knowing their chances of landing the left-handed, the Mariners kept in regular contact with Paxton’s agent Scott Boras after the throwing session with the deal that only came together in recent days.
With the Yankees, Paxton pitched well when he was healthy. In 2019, he had a 3.82 ERA while going 15-6 with 186 strikeouts in 150 2/3 innings. However, 2020 got off to a worrying start with the startling news in early February that he would miss three to four months after undergoing surgery to repair a lumbar disc hernia. Paxton made just five starts after returning in July before being eliminated with a flexor load in his left elbow. In all respects, the injuries are behind him and positive reports are coming from the throwing session at ATI.
It’s worth noting that Paxton has been with ATI since 2017. Familiarity with the organization and the area played a part in the signing of the one-year deal, which is essentially a ‘proof it’ contract. Should he pitch well, Paxton could help the Mariners attempt a run in the postseason, or, like his former “Big Three” teammate Taijuan Walker last year, be traded for a contender on deadline.
(For now) Paxton will now return to the Mariners to participate in a rotation with one of the players he was traded for, Justus Sheffield, as well as Marco Gonzales, Yusei Kikuchi and Chris Flexen.
With the Mariners going with a six-man rotation, one spot remains open and suddenly an interesting positional battle ensues with two players ending the season in the rotation, Justin Dunn and Nick Margevicius, battling it out alongside Logan. Gilbert, who said Dipoto, would have the chance to compete for a spot in spring training. This is a very different picture from a year ago when the young players had the chance to get their feet wet. This year they will have to earn it.
Paxton becomes the fourth free agent to sign a Major League deal by the Mariners this winter with Chris Flexen, Keynan Middleton, Kendall Graveman and Ken Giles.
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