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On a per-inning basis, James Paxton is a hoss. His 32.3% strikeout rate would have been 4th-best among starters in the MLB last year (a hair ahead of Jacob deGrom’s 32.2% mark) had he qualified. The trouble is, he doesn’t throw a ton of innings. Last year’s 160 1⁄3 was a career-high, but the New York Yankees didn’t seem to mind much. Here are the particulars:
Can confirm Mariners and Yankees are in process of finalizing a deal that will send James Paxton to NY for three prospects, including top-rated RH Justus Sheffield.
— Greg Johns (@GregJohnsMLB) November 19, 2018
The other two prospects were OF Don Thompson-Williams and RHP Erik Swanson. So the lefty-throwing Sheffield is the prospect of note.
Here is what awaits Paxton in the AL East:
wOBA against LHP:
— Alex Fast (@AlexFast8) November 19, 2018
7. TB - .322
18. BOS - .313
22. TOR - .305
27. BAL - .288
Welcome to the AL East, James Paxton.
You have to think the man allows a few more home runs this year. Still, the team context is epic and hardly anyone is throwing 200+ innings anymore. In real life, it’s hard to tell which side “won.” We don’t know how the prospects are going to pan out, after all. For now let’s give the Mariners credit for igniting their rebuild with three Yankees prospects...and let’s give the Yankees credit for shoring up starting pitching instead of chasing the shiny new toys named Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. Here’s one last tweet for the road:
Source: #Yankees remain interested in free agents Patrick Corbin and J.A. Happ, following the James Paxton deal. Yankees are placing a higher priority on adding one more starting pitcher than signing Manny Machado or Bryce Harper. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 19, 2018
I’m not even close to a Yankees fan, but the idea of them adding Paxton AND Corbin is exciting. We shall see!
Poll
Who won the trade?
This poll is closed
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21%
Mariners!
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56%
Yankees!
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21%
No one (it’s a tie)