Dodgers, Left-Handed Pitcher James Paxton Reportedly Agree to One-Year Deal
The Los Angeles Dodgers have continued their busy offseason, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with left-handed pitcher James Paxton. Chad Dey on X/Twitter was first to report the deal. Then, Jon Heyman of the New York Post followed with a report that the sides were “working on a possible deal.”
Now, the deal appears to be agreed upon, as Paxton will get a base salary of at least $11 million with incentives, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic and Mark Feinsand of MLB.com have said the deal would be for roughly $12 million.
James Paxton Scouting Report
Paxton fills the Dodgers’ biggest need as a left-handed starter. The 35-year-old is coming off a 2023 season in which he had a 4.50 ERA in 19 starts coming off Tommy John surgery which sidelined him all of 2022.
Paxton is a 10-year veteran who began his MLB career with the Seattle Mariners in 2013. He’s spent seven seasons with Seattle, two with the New York Yankees and one with the Boston Red Sox.
Paxton has a pitch mix that includes five pitches. His primary pitch is a four-seam fastball, which he threw 55.8 percent of the time in 2023. He also has a knuckle curve, cutter, changeup and occasional sinker.
Paxton will be joining his fourth team and first National League team in the Dodgers. In his career at Dodger Stadium, he has a 4.85 ERA in 13 innings.
What Does the Dodgers’ Rotation Look Like With James Paxton?
The Dodgers’ will finally have a left-handed starter in the rotation with Paxton. Here’s what it could look like (once Walker Buehler is fully healthy).
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto
- Tyler Glasnow
- Walker Buehler
- Bobby Miller
- James Paxton
- Emmet Sheehan
What Does the James Paxton Deal Mean for Clayton Kershaw?
While Paxton does fill the Dodgers’ need for a left-handed starting pitcher, it doesn’t necessarily take them out of the Clayton Kershaw sweepstakes.
Kershaw won’t be back until late summer as he rehabs his shoulder surgery, and could still be a great addition to the Dodgers for after the All-Star break.
If everyone remained healthy — and that’s a big if — Kershaw could slide into the rotation and Sheehan could go back to the bullpen in a long relief role.
Photo Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Paxton is another “bargain basement” acquisition buy the Dodger hedge fund, baseball front office. He’s a 5 ERA career pitcher who should NEVER have been signed by LA. Dodger fans. Please, I beg you, don’t go overboard on this Dodger team. They presently have THREE legit solid All Star players, Mookie, Freddie, & Shoehi. That’s it! The reality is the pitching staff is composed of IF’s…IF Yamamoto succeeds having never thrown ONE MLB pitch? IF Glasnow succeeds after throwing 120 innings in 20 starts last year? IF Bobby Miller can learn to pitch instead of throw, and develop command of his pitches? IF Walker Buehler returns, sometime next season, and can resurrect his career after 2 Tommy John surgeries? IF Emmet Sheehan can get more experience on the MLB level to actually know what he’s doing on the mound, and be more effective with his lightning stuff? AND PLEASE take the rag arm lefty Paxton off the starter’s list unless he’s used in spot situations vs lefthanded hitters. The Dodger brass, Don’t be fooled. The Dodger’s baseball operatives DID NOT close the ‘World Series or Bust’ deal! While it was terrific securing Ohtani, there are holes in the bottom half of their everyday lineup, and they sorely lack a true championship closer. HOW COULD THEY NOT SIGN HADER??? Ohtani’s deferred money gave these ‘questionable intelligence,’ LA baseball execs, the opportunity to bring in a solid LEFTY starter (Snell), a Proven closer in Hader, and a true defensive/offensive 3rd baseman (Chapman? Arenado in a trade). Muncy & Will Smith are useable as trade bait, but DO NOT be fooled; Atlanta’s lineup & pitching staff rules-they’re still #1-Top Dog in the NL!
There is no “Kershaw Sweepstakes”. He’ll sign w the Dodgers if and when he can pitch again.
Turn the page!
LOL, you got that right. If Kershaw pitches at all this year, it’ll be a handful of short starts after the Dodgers have already wrapped up the division, but even that is more aspirational than probable..
I just want Kershaw to 1) get his 3,000th K with the Dodgers, then 2) retire as a one-uniform HOFer with the Dodgers. Other than that, Paxton is the fill-in for Ohtani this year. He’d probably retire after this year if the Dodgers win the WS anyway. Nice way to go out…
You can’t have enough pitching. Good add.
Tyler Anderson